Informal and Formal Supports in Aging in Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady Counties, New York, 1989

These data explore the family relationships and social support networks of middle-aged and older persons. Information on respondents' relationships with individual family members is supplied, along with measures of many kinds of routine help given and received, and summary measures of the amount of time that others spent helping the respondent and that the respondent spent helping others. Variables cover respondent's employment status and history, employment status and history of respondent's spouse, respondent's income, number and sex of children, family composition (biological parents, step-parents, in-laws), household chores performed (cooking, cleaning, washing, shopping, driving), and assistance received with chores. Additional items relate to whether respondents helped anyone else with daily activities, and whether they were involved in church, civic, and/or other activities. Demographic information about respondents and their spouses (age, sex, education, ethnicity) is also provided.