Description

For sample adults who do not use a wheelchair or scooter to get around or it was not ascertained whether they use a wheelchair or scooter to get around (CHAIR), WALKDIF12ST1 reports the level of difficulty they face (if any) when walking up or down 12 steps. Prior to 2019, WALKDIF12ST1 was collected via a single question fielded to both those who did not use special equipment or need help to get around, and those who used special equipment or need help to get around but who did not use a wheelchair or scooter. Beginning in 2019, WALKDIF12ST1 was modified to align with disability measures developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (see below). In 2019, WALKDIF12ST1 was asked separately to sample adults age 18+ who did not use special equipment and those who did but did not use a wheelchair or scooter to get around or it was not ascertained whether they used a wheelchair or scooter to get around. IPUMS staff combined these two variables in the 2019 and later samples into a single variable to enhance comparability with earlier years.

WALKDIF12ST 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 WALKDIF12ST1 in specific years and the weights tab for the correct sampling weight to use in each year.

The Washington Group on Disability Statistics[show more]

Comparability

WALKDIF12ST1 was first introduced in 2010 as part of the Quality of Life (QoL) supplement (administered to approximately a quarter of sample adults) and was collected for sample adults who were selected for the QoL supplement who did not use a wheelchair to get around. In 2011 and 2012, it was asked as part of the Adult Functioning and Disability supplement (administered to a subset of sample adults) for sample adults who were selected for both the Family Disability supplement and the Adult Functioning and Disability supplement, and who did not use a wheelchair or scooter to get around. In 2013-2017, it was asked as part of the Adult Functioning and Disability supplement and was collected for sample adults selected for the Adult Functioning and Disability supplement who did not use a wheelchair or scooter to get around. Beginning in 2013, sample adults could receive either the Family Disability supplement or the Adult Functioning and Disability supplement, but not both.

Beginning in 2018, the Adult Functioning and Disability supplement was discontinued and WALKDIF12ST1 moved to the sample adult questionnaire. The universe of respondents for WALKDIF12ST1 for 2018 and later years is all sample adults who did not use a wheelchair or scooter to get around (i.e., those who do not need special equipment or help to get around and those who need special equipment or help to get around, but not a wheelchair or scooter). This includes those who did not need any special equipment to get around and those who did need special equipment to get around, but who did not use a wheelchair or scooter (e.g., those using a cane or walker).

While the general meaning of WALKDIF12ST1 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

Availability

• 2010-2023

Weights

• 2018-2023 : SAMPWEIGHT
• 2010-2017 : SUPP1WT