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

• Adoption and nonbiological parenting
• Attitudes
  • Condom use
  • Marriage and cohabitation
  • Parenthood and childbearing
  • Sexual activity
  • Work and family

 

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 – 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 – 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 – 3.5 MB]

²Special tabulation by NCHS

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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.