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William Mosher, PhD, NCHSNCHS Data User’s Conference,

Session 38, July 11, 2006, 3:30 pmK: 2006DUC-Relig-V1

Using data on Religious affiliation and religiosity on the National

Survey of Family Growth

Using data on Religious affiliation and religiosity on the National

Survey of Family Growth

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Outline of Today’s talk

Purpose & scope of NSFG Types of data on religious affiliation and

religious participation in NSFG Illustrative findings, potential for

research Some main points

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The NSFG focuses on fertility, HIV & STD risk, & Fatherhood & Family

Life

Fertility marriage, divorce, sexual activity contraception, infertility birth and other pregnancy outcomes

HIV & STD’s: sexual & drug risk-taking

Fatherhood & Family Life Father involvement with children Attitudes toward family, marriage,

children

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Cycle Year Scope

Number of

Interviews

Over-Samples

Average Length

Incen-tive

11973

Ever-Married Women 15-44

9,797Black Women

60 Minutes

No

21976

Ever-Married Women 15-44

8,611Black Women

60 Minutes

No

31982

All Women 15-44 7,969Black Women Teens

60 Minutes

No

41988

All Women 15-44 8,450Black Women

70 Minutes

No

51995

All Women 15-44 10,847Black Women Hispanic Women

100 Minutes

$20

62002

Women 15-44 Men 15-44

12,571W = 7,643M = 4,928

BlacksHispanicsAges 15-24

W = 85 M = 60

$40

NSFG history in brief

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Contractor: Institute for Social Research (ISR), Univ. of

Michigan

Blacks, Hispanics, teens over-sampled In-person interviews using laptop computers

Interviews in both English and Spanish (970 respondents were interviewed in Spanish)

Response rate: 79% (80% for women, 78% for men)

How the 2002 NSFG data were collected

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Why does the NSFG collect data

on religious affiliation and participation? Since fertility surveys began in 1955, religious

variables have been among the best correlates of fertility, contraception, marriage, and health-related behaviors.

Old pattern (1950’s -1970’s): Catholic-Protestant differences

New pattern (1980’s –present): Religiosity—importance, attendance

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Measures Religion in which R* was raised. Current religious affiliation. Importance of religion in daily life. Attendance at religious services-now For ages 15-24:

Attendance at religious services at age 14

*R=Respondent (the person interviewed)

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RELCURR (Current religious affiliation) on the NSFG Cycle 6 public use data file

1 No religion 2,079

2 Catholic 3,715

3 Baptist, Southern Baptist 2,187

4 Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal

1,537

5 Fundamentalist Protestant 725

6 Other Protestant Denomination 776

7 Protestant-No specific denomination 684

8 Other religion 828

98 Refused 27

99 Don’t Know 13

TOTAL 12,571

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Categories typically used in analysis—religion raised or current religious

affiliation

No religion Fundamentalist Protestant

(Assemblies of God, Church of the Nazarene, Church of God, 7th Day Adventist, United Pentecostal Church, Pentecostal Assemblies, Jehovah’s Witness.)

Other Protestant Denominations (includes Latter Day Saints/Mormon)

Catholic Other religions (Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist,

Unitarian, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc)

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Importance of Religion

“Currently, how important is religion in your daily life? Would you say it is very important, somewhat important, or not important?” Very important. 5,725 Somewhat important 3,925 Not important. 812 Inapplicable—No religion 2,084 Refused or Don’t Know 25

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Frequency of attendance

“About how often do you attend religious services?” More than once a week 1,367 Once a week 2,482 1-3 times per month 2,044

Less than once a month 3,429 Never 3,224 Refused, Don’t know 25 TOTAL 12,571

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Percent of women 15-44 who have had 3 or more children, by

religion in which she was raised: US, 2002

10

26

17

21

14

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

None FundProt

OtherProt

Catholic OtherRel

13

12

28

16

12 11

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

None FundamentalistProtestant

Other Protestant Catholic Other religion

Religion raised

Percent of non-Hispanic white women 15-44, who ever had a tubal sterilization, by religion raised: US, 2002

Source: Table 72.

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Percent who agree or strongly agree that, “It is all right for unmarried 18 year

olds to have sexual relations if they have strong affection for each other,” by importance of

religion

39 35

6761

78 76

0

20

40

60

80

100

Men Women

Very important Somewhat imp. Not imp.

15

55

22

12

51

22

14

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Very important Somewhat important Not important

Importance of religion

Men Women

Percent who strongly agree or agree that, “A young couple should not live together unless

they are married,” by importance of religion

Table 39.

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Percent who disagree or strongly disagree with the statement, “It is okay for an unmarried female to have a child,” by importance of

religion: US, 2002

52

3935

1823

12

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Men Women

Very important Somewhat important Not importantTables 91, 92.

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Percent of fathers with children 5-18 who attended religious services with their children

once a month or more in the last year, by importance of religion: US, 2002

42

12

67

19

681

30

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Lives w kids Does not

Total Very impt Somewhat Not impt

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Percent of men 15-44 who agreed with the statement, “Gay and Lesbian adults should have the right to adopt children,” by current religion

64

16

4146

54

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

None Fund Prot Other Prot Catholic Other

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Strengths of NSFG data Measures at 2 points in time:

While growing up: religion raised; & attendance at age 14

At date of interview: religious denomination, attendance, and

importance of religion in daily life. Time series back to 1973 for religious

denomination and attendance.-

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Limitations of NSFG data No direct data on specific beliefs

considered too sensitive

Sample size is too small to show separately: Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Mormon, others.

Disclosure concerns: groups that are small, geographically

concentrated, and visible must not be shown separately on public use files to protect confidentiality.

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Studying Smaller religious groups

For groups too small to show separately on the public use file, you can combine cycles and access the Cycle 6 data on the smaller groups through the NCHS Research Data Center (RDC).

Access to RDC is not free; charges apply and an application is required.

Contact nsfg@cdc.gov for details.

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Some Main Points-11. NSFG has collected national data on factors

related to birth rates & STD’s since 1973.

2. NSFG has always used in-person interviewing because the survey is sensitive and complex.

3. NSFG has collected data on current religious affiliation & attendance since Cycle 1 in 1973.

4. NSFG added “religion raised” and importance of religion in Cycle 5 (1995) and 6 (2002).

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Main Points-2

1. NSFG included men for the first time in 2002, to study topics like HIV risk, fatherhood roles, and men’s attitudes toward families, kids, marriage, etc.

2. Public use files for Cycles 1-6 available free on CD-ROM, at nsfg@cdc.gov

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How to learn more about the NSFG:

nsfg@cdc.gov or 301-458-4222 (leave message) NSFG, NCHS, 3311 Toledo Road, Room 7318 Hyattsville, MD. 20782

Visit:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm

NSFG team is: Joyce Abma, PhD Anjani Chandra, PhD Jo Jones, PhD Gladys Martinez, PhDBrittany McGill, MPP Bill Mosher, PhD