Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample adults who have difficulty remembering or difficulty remembering and concentrating (LAMEMORCON), LAMEMDIFAMT reports how much difficulty they have remembering things. Before 2019, persons who also refused or don't know if they have difficulty remembering things or concentrating were also included in the universe. Beginning in 2019, LAMEMDIFAMT was modified to align with disability measures developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (see below).
LAMEMDIFAMT was collected in different sections of the NHIS questionnaire over time, which may affect raw frequencies but should not affect estimates produced with the correct sampling weight. Please refer to the universe tab for more information on who has responses for LAMEMDIFAMT in specific years and the weights tab for the correct sampling weight to use in each year.
The Washington Group on Disability Statistics
In 2019, functioning and disability measures included on the NHIS questionnaire were modified to align with validated, internationally-comparable disability measures developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG). For more information about the WG initiative, other WG functioning and disability measures included on the NHIS questionnaire, and guidance for researchers about how to use the WG measures in analyses, please see our user note on the Washington Group Disability Measures.
Comparability
In 2010, this item was collected for sample adults who completed the Quality of Life supplement (administered to approximately a quarter of sample adults). In 2011-2017, this item was collected for sample adults who completed the Family Disability supplement (administered to a subset of sample adults). Beginning in 2018, the Family Disability supplement was discontinued and LAMEMDIFAMT was moved to the sample adult questionnaire.
While the general meaning of LAMEMDIFAMT is comparable over time, questionnaire design changes introduced in 2019 limit comparability with earlier years. The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.
Universe
- 2010: One quarter of sample adults 18+ who were selected to receive the Quality of Life supplement (and excluded from family disability supplement) who have difficulty remembering or have difficulty both remembering and concentrating, or for whom this was unknown.
- 2011-2017: Sample adults 18+ who were selected to receive the Family Disability questions and had some difficulty, a lot of difficulty, or were unable to remember or concentrate, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty remembering or concentrating, AND they had difficulty remembering only, difficulty both remembering and concentrating, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty remembering, concentrating, or both.
- 2018: Sample adults 18+ who had some difficulty, a lot of difficulty, or were unable to remember or concentrate, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty remembering or concentrating, AND they had difficulty remembering only, difficulty both remembering and concentrating, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty remembering, concentrating, or both.
- 2019-2023: Sample adults 18+ who have difficulty remembering or remembering and concentrating (LAMEMORCON).
Availability
- 2010-2023
Weights
- 2018-2023 : SAMPWEIGHT
- 2010-2017 : SUPP1WT