National Survey of Family Growth

Key Statistics from the National Survey of Family Growth - A Listing

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Adoption and nonbiological parenting

 

Percentage and number of females 18-44 years of age who have ever:

20021

Percent, Number

 2006-20102

Percent, Number

 2011-20152

Percent (SE), Number
Adopted a child 1.1%, 0.6 million 0.9%, 0.5 million 0.7% (0.12), 0.4 million
Taken steps to adopt a child 3.4%, 1.9 million 4.4%, 2.5 million 3.7% (0.27), 2.0 million

Sources:

1Series 23, No. 25, Table 82 pdf icon[PDF – 4.7 MB] (see also Table 83)

2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

20021

Percent, Number

 2006-20102

Percent, Number

 2011-20152

Percent (SE), Number
Percentage and number of females 18-44 years of age who have ever cared for a nonbiological child 12.6%, 7.0 million women 12.7%, 7.1 million women 11.5% (0.58), 6.4 million women

Sources:

1Series 23, No. 25, Table 81 pdf icon[PDF – 4.7 MB]

2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

20021

Percent, Number

 2006-20102

Percent, Number

 2011-20152

Percent (SE), Number
Percentage and number of males 15-44 years of age who have ever adopted a child 2.1%, 1.3 million 1.4%, 0.8 million 1.3% (0.20), 0.7 million

Sources:

1Series 23, No. 26, Table 61 pdf icon[PDF – 3.5 MB]

2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Attitudes

 

Condom use

Percent distribution of males and females15-24 years of age by responses to specified statements:

 

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

2011-2015
No chance Little chance 50-50 chance Pretty good chance Almost certain chance
Female 37.2% (1.18) 25.4% (1.07) 19.8% (1.04) 11.3% (0.80) 6.2% (0.76)
Male 17.3% (0.89) 25.9% (1.02)  29.1% (1.07) 18.1% (1.17) 9.7% (0.78)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

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

2011-2015
No chance Little chance 50-50 chance Pretty good chance Almost certain chance
Female 62.7% (1.39) 17.6% (0.96) 8.2% (0.70) 6.4% (0.62) 5.0% (0.56)
Male 61.3% (1.07) 20.5% (1.00) 10.0% (0.66) 5.6% (0.4) 2.6% (0.38)

Source: Special tabulations by NCHS

 

“What is the chance that if you used a condom, a new partner would appreciate it?”1/

2006-2010
No chance Little chance 50-50 chance Pretty good chance Almost certain chance
Male 1.7% 3.4% 12.7% 42.2% 38.0%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS
1/ This item was last asked in 2006-2010 NSFG.

Marriage and cohabitation

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

 

“It is better to get married than to go through life being single.”1/

2006-2010
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 14.7% 34.7% 36.7% 11.7%
Male 22.8% 43.2% 26.6% 5.4%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS
1/This item was last asked in 2006-2010 NSFG.

 

“Divorce is usually the best solution when a couple can’t seem to work out their marriage problems.”

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female  10.0% (0.46) 27.2%(0.76) 0.4% (0.8) 35.5% (0.60) 26.9% (0.88)
Male 7.6% (0.44) 31.4% (0.87) 0.6% (0.14) 40.1% (0.83) 20.2% (0.74)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

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

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 8.0% (0.53) 18.5% (0.63) 0.7% (0.12)  48.8% (0.80) 24.1% (0.76)
Male 6.6% (0.42) 17.4% (0.73) 0.5% (0.08) 54.3% (0.84) 21.2% (0.81)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

“Marriage has not worked out for most people I know.”

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 7.6% (0.34) 28.6% (0.77) 0.7% (0.13)  49.6% (0.90) 13.5% (0.58)
Male 5.6% (0.33) 25.9% (0.75) 1.0% (0.16) 55.0% (0.73) 12.4% (0.59)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

“Living together before marriage may help prevent divorce.”

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 15.8% (0.67) 46.5% (0.80) 1.5% (0.21)  27.3% (0.74) 9.0% (0.56)
Male 17.5% (0.70) 51.5% (0.87) 1.5% (0.20) 22.9% (0.72) 6.7% (0.42)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Parenthood and childbearing

Percent distribution of females and males 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.”1/

2006-2010
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 60.3% 35.1% 3.0% 0.7%
Male 52.3% 41.8% 3.7% 0.8%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS
1/This item was last asked in 2006-2010 NSFG.

 

“People can’t be really happy unless they have children.”

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 1.6% (0.17) 5.0% (0.35) 0.3% (0.06) 43.5% (0.98) 49.6% (1.09)
Male 1.7% (0.18) 6.6% (0.42) 0.4% (0.08) 50.7% (0.80) 40.6% (0.84)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

 

“It is okay for an unmarried female to have a child.”

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 27.7% (0.80) 52.5% (0.80) 1.0% (0.16) 14.8% (0.53) 4.1% (0.28)
Male 17.4% (0.63) 53.6% (0.90) 0.9% (0.13) 21.6% (0.71) 6.4% (0.45)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

“Gay or lesbian adults should have the right to adopt children.”

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 36.5% (0.99) 40.5%  (0.83) 1.5% (0.16) 13.1% (0.57) 8.4% (0.52)
Male 24.2% (0.90) 45.0% (0.83) 1.5% (0.18) 17.3% (0.63) 12.0%  (0.73)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

“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.”

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

2011-2015
A great deal Some A little Not at all
Female 38.3% (1.14) 27.5% (1.00) 15.2% (0.71) 19.0% (0.90)
Male 24.7% (0.82) 26.5% (0.83) 19.8% (0.78) 29.0% (0.88)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

“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.)

2011-2015
Very upset Little upset Wouldn’t Care Little pleased Very pleased
Female 30.5% (0.81) 27.0% (0.64) 0.5% (0.09) 19.6% (0.49) 22.3% (0.66)
Male 21.2% (0.73) 26.9% (0.69) 0.8% (0.16) 25.3% (0.65) 25.8% (0.72)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

 

“It is okay to have and raise children when the parents are living together but not married.”

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 16.9% (0.63) 60.0% (0.86) 1.0% (0.19) 17.9% (0.65) 4.2% (0.35)
Male 13.0% (0.58) 64.4% (0.83) 0.6% (0.15) 18.0% (0.65) 3.9% (0.29)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Sexual activity

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

 

“Any sexual act between two consenting adults is all right.”1/

2006-2010
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 18.6% 57.3% 16.3% 6.6%
Male 17.3% 57.9% 17.6% 5.9%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS
1/This item was last asked in 2006-2010 NSFG.

 

“Sexual relations between two adults of the same sex are all right.”

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 25.2% (0.92) 37.9% (0.82) 2.3% (0.24) 19.1% (0.62) 15.5% (0.71)
Male 16.9% (0.77) 34.0% (0.94) 1.6% (0.23) 23.8% (0.73) 23.6% (0.93)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

“It is all right for unmarried 18 year olds to have sexual relations if they have strong affection for each other.”

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 9.2% (0.51) 47.6% (0.83) 0.9% (0.13) 27.9% (0.70) 14.4% (0.65)
Male 11.0% (0.61) 53.7% (0.95) 0.9% (0.15) 23.7%  (0.75) 10.7% (0.57)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

“It is all right for unmarried 16 year olds to have sexual relations if they have strong affection for each other.”

2011-2015
Strongly agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 1.8% (0.18) 14.6% (0.58) 0.8% (0.14) 40.5% (0.73) 42.4% (0.97)
Male 2.7% (0.34) 21.1% (0.66) 0.7% (0.12) 42.1% (0.77) 33.4% (1.02)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Work and family

Percent distribution of females and males 15-44 years of age by responses to the specified statements, 2006-2010:

 

“A working mother can establish just as warm and secure a relationship with her children as a mother who does not work.”1/

Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 37.9% 48.7% 11.2% 1.5%
Male 22.8% 55.5% 18.6% 2.3%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS
1/ This item was last asked in 2006-2010 NSFG.

 

 

“It is much better for everyone if the man earns the main living and the woman takes care of the home and family.” 1/

Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 6.3% 21.7% 45.2% 25.6%
Male 6.9% 28.1% 48.5% 14.6%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS
1/ This item was last asked in 2006-2010 NSFG.

 

 

“It is more important for a man to spend a lot of time with his family than to be successful at his career.” 1/

Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
Female 14.1% 54.2% 25.3% 2.2%
Male 18.1% 57.2% 20.0% 1.5%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS
1/This item was last asked in 2006-2010 NSFG.

Page last reviewed: June 6, 2017
Content source: National Center for Health Statistics