Key Statistics from the National Survey of Family Growth

 

A Listing

• Adoption and nonbiological parenting
• Attitudes
  • Condom use
  • Marriage and cohabitation
  • Parenthood and childbearing
  • Sexual activity
  • Work and family

 

Adoption and nonbiological parenting

• Percent of females 18-44 years of age who had ever adopted a child, 2002: 1.1% (0.6 million)
  
  
• Percent of females 18-44 years of age who have ever taken steps to adopt a child, 2002: 3.4% (1.9 million)

  Source: Series 23, No. 25, Table 82 [PDF - 4.7 MB] (see also Table 83)

• Percent of females 18-44 years of age who ever cared for a nonbiological child, 2002: 12.6% (7.0 million women)

  Source: Series 23, No. 25, Table 81 [PDF - 4.7 MB]

• Percent of males 15-44 years of age who had ever adopted a child, 2002:  2.1% (1.3 million)

  Source: Series 23, No. 26, Table 61 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

Attitudes

 

Condom use

Percent distribution of males 15-24 years of age by responses to specified statements, 2002:  

"What is the chance that if you used a condom during sex, you would feel less physical pleasure?"

	No chance	Little chance	50-50 chance	Pretty good chance	Almost certain chance
Male	13.6%	27.0%	28.3%	19.4%	11.7%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Table 55 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

"What is the chance that it would be embarrassing for you and a new partner to discuss using a condom?"

	No chance	Little chance	50-50 chance	Pretty good chance	Almost certain chance
Male	54.5%	21.8%	12.3%	6.3%	5.2%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Table 53 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

"What is the chance that if you used a condom, a new partner would appreciate it?"

	No chance	Little chance	50-50 chance	Pretty good chance	Almost certain chance
Male	2.1%	3.0%	12.4%	39.2%	43.4%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Table 54 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

NOTE:  Percentages in the tables on "Condom use" may not add to 100 because of rounding.

 

Marriage and cohabitation

Percent distribution of females and males 15-44 years of age by responses to specified statements, 2002:

 

"It is better to get married than to go through life being single."

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	14.4%	36.2%	32.8%	11.7%
Male	21.7%	44.3%	24.9%	5.4%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 37-38 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

"Divorce is usually the best solution when a couple can't seem to work out their marriage problems.''

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	9.5%	37.1%	37.0%	13.6%
Male	7.7%	36.5%	39.5%	14.4%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 41-42 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

"A young couple should not live together unless they are married."

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	9.7%	25.0%	49.1%	13.4%
Male	9.0%	23.1%	52.6%	13.3%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 39-40 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

NOTE: Percentages in the tables on "Marriage and cohabitation" do not add to 100 because the category "Neither agree nor disagree" is not shown here.

 

Parenthood and childbearing

Percent distribution of women and men 15-44 years of age by responses to specified statements:

 

"The rewards of being a parent are worth it, despite the cost and work it takes, 2002:"

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	59.0%	35.2%	2.5%	1.4%
Male	51.8%	42.0%	4.0%	0.8%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 79-80 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

"It is okay for an unmarried female to have a child, 2002:"

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	15.7%	53.9%	20.2%	7.2%
Male	8.7%	50.2%	29.8%	8.2%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 91-92 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

"Gay or lesbian adults should have the right to adopt children, 2002:"

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	13.8%	41.6%	23.5%	15.9%
Male	8.4%	38.5%	28.0%	21.5%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 81-82 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

Note: Percentages do not add up to 100 in the "Parenthood and childbearing" tables
above because the category, "Neither agree nor disagree", is not shown separately.

 

"If it turns out that you do not have any children, would that bother you a great deal, some, a little, or not at all, 2002?"

(Responses of those 15-44 years of age without any children)

	A great deal	Some	A little	Not at all
Female	42.0%	29.1%	13.9%	15.0%
Male	29.5%	31.4%	16.9%	22.2%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 89-90 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

 "If you got pregnant now/got a female pregnant now, how would you feel?"

(Responses of those never married and 15-19 years of age.)

	Very upset	Little upset	Little pleased	Very pleased
Female, 2002	60.2%	26.7%	8.0%	4.7%
Female, 2006-2010	57.5%	29.1%	8.2%	4.8%
Male, 2002	51.4%	33.4%	11.0%	3.7%
Male, 2006-2010	46.6%	34.0%	14.3%	4.3%

 Source: Series 23, No. 31, Table 16 [PDF-723 KB]

 

  

Sexual activity

Percent distribution of women and men 15-44 years of age by responses to specified statements:

 

"Any sexual act between two consenting adults is all right, 2002:"

(Responses of males and females 15-19 years of age)

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	12.4%	60.6%	20.8%	4.6%
Male	12.4%	61.3%	21.3%	2.8%

Source: Series 23, No. 24, Table 30 [PDF - 2.1 MB]

 

"It is all right for unmarried 18 year olds to have sexual relations if they have strong affection for each other, 2002:"

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	4.3%	46.3%	31.4%	15.4%
Male	7.3%	52.4%	28.5%	9.3%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 25-26 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

"It is all right for unmarried 16 year olds to have sexual relations if they have strong affection for each other, 2002:"

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	1.0%	12.4%	45.2%	40.0%
Male	1.6%	18.3%	46.0%	32.2%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 27-28 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

Note: Percentages in the tables on "Sexual activities: do not add up to 100 because the category, "Neither agree nor disagree" is not shown here.

 

Work and family

Percent distribution of women and men 15-44 years of age by responses to the specified statements, 2002:

 

"A working mother can establish just as warm and secure a relationship with her children as a mother who does not work."

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	29.3%	53.9%	13.8%	1.7%
Male	17.5%	55.1%	23.5%	2.9%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 83-84 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

"It is much better for everyone if the man earns the main living and the woman takes care of the home and family."

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	7.6%	25.9%	44.2%	19.5%
Male	6.5%	30.1%	48.6%	11.0%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 85-86 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

"It is more important for a man to spend a lot of time with his family than to be a success at his career."

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	17.4%	54.7%	20.6%	1.4%
Male	19.5%	56.8%	17.7%	1.3%

Source: Series 23, No. 26, Tables 87-88 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

 

NOTE: Percentages in the tables on "Work and family" do not add to 100 because the category "Neither agree nor disagree" is not shown here.