Description

For sample persons age 18 and older, EMOHELPREL reports whether or not in the past year the person sought help from a religious counselor (such as priest, minister or rabbi).

In 1985, for affirmative responses, the survey specifies the order in which the first four sources of help were mentioned. If the person mentioned more than four sources of help, responses beyond the first four sources of help mentioned are not ordered. Users interested in a "yes" response about the use of this source of help (regardless of the order in which it was mentioned), should combine all response categories that indicate an affirmative response.

For changes in the sample universe and response options, please refer to the Comparability tab.

EMOHELPREL is part of a series of variables related to sources of help with adult personal or emotional problems, as well as the amount of help received by each source. For related variables, please use the IPUMS NHIS search function and drop-down menus.

Comparability

Small changes in the universe occurred over the years; please refer to the Universe tab for these changes. Changes in survey design (e.g., quarters in which the supplement was collected) may affect raw frequencies, but do not affect comparability of the variable. As always, data users should use the prescribed IHIS weights.

Several changes also occurred in the response categories. In 1985, the order with which the person named the sources of help was recorded, whereas in the rest of the years it wasn't. However, in 1990 the person was asked additional questions related to the extent to which each source of help was used (see for example, EMOAMTREL). Finally note that this specific category changes slightly over the years. In 1985, it was "religious counselor." In 1990, it expanded to "religious counselor/religious support group/religious therapy group/minister, etc." In 1995 and 1998 it changed to "a priest, minister, rabbi, or other religious counselor."

Universe

Availability

• 1985, 1990, 1995, 1998

Weights

• 1985, 1990, 1998 : SAMPWEIGHT
• 1995 : SUPP2WT