Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample adults and sample children age 5-17 who use equipment or receive help for getting around, WALKDIF5BL2 reports the level of difficulty she/he faces (if any) when walking a third of a mile on level ground (which is equivalent to the length of five football fields or five city blocks) using her/his aids. Prior to 2019, this variable was available for sample adults age 18 and older who use equipment or receive help for getting around but do not use a wheelchair or scooter.
This variable was first introduced in 2010 as part of the Quality of Life supplement and was included in that supplement through 2017. In 2018, this item was included on the sample adult questionnaire and beginning in 2019 was included on both the sample adult questionnaire and sample child questionnaire.
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
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. In 2018, this item was included on the sample adult questionnaire and beginning in 2019 was included on both the sample adult questionnaire and sample child questionnaire. As always, data users should use the prescribed IPUMS NHIS weights.
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, included in quality of life supplement (and excluded from family disability supplement), who use equipment or receive help with walking, climbing steps, or moving around but do not use a wheelchair, and who have no difficulty, some difficulty, a lot of difficulty, or an unknown amount of difficulty walking 100 yards on level ground when using their aid.
- 2011-2017: Sample adults 18+ who were selected to receive the Family Disability questions, were randomly selected to receive the Functioning and Disability (AFD) section, used equipment or received help getting around, did not use a wheelchair or scooter, AND had no difficulty, some difficulty, or a lot of difficulty walking 100 yards on level ground when using their aid, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty walking 100 yards on level ground when using their aid.
- 2018: Sample adults 18+ who used equipment or received help getting around, did not use a wheelchair or scooter, AND had no difficulty, some difficulty, or a lot of difficulty walking 100 yards on level ground when using their aid, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty walking 100 yards on level ground when using their aid.
- 2019-2023: Sample adults 18+ and sample children age 5 to 17 who use equipment or receive help for getting around and had no difficulty, some difficulty, or a lot of difficulty walking 100 yards when using their aid, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty walking 100 yards without use of an aid.
Availability
- 2010-2023
Weights
- 2018-2023 : SAMPWEIGHT
- 2010-2017 : SUPP1WT
