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

 

Percent of females 18-44 years of age who have ever:

	20021	2006-20102
Adopted a child	1.1% (0.6 million)	0.9% (0.5 million)
Taken steps to adopt a child	3.4% (1.9 million)	4.4% (2.5 million)

Sources:

¹Series 23, No. 25, Table 82 [PDF - 4.7 MB] (see also Table 83)

²Special tabulation by NCHS

 

	20021	2006-20102
Percent 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)

Sources:

¹Series 23, No. 25, Table 81 [PDF - 4.7 MB]

²Special tabulation by NCHS

 

	20021	2006-20102
Percent of males 15-44 years of age who have ever adopted a child	2.1% (1.3 million)	1.4% (0.8 million)

Sources:

¹Series 23, No. 26, Table 61 [PDF - 3.5 MB]

²Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Attitudes

 

Condom use

Percent distribution of males 15-24 years of age by responses to specified statements, 2006-2010:

 

"What is the chance that if you used a condom during sex, you would feel less physical pleasure?"

	No chance	Little chance	50-50 chance	Pretty good chance	Almost certain chance
Male	12.3%	26.0%	26.0%	21.1%	12.4%

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?"

	No chance	Little chance	50-50 chance	Pretty good chance	Almost certain chance
Male	58.8%	21.5%	9.1%	6.4%	3.3%

Source: Special tabulations by NCHS

 

"What is the chance that if you used a condom, a new partner would appreciate it?"

	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

NOTE:  Percentages in the tables on "Condom use" may not add to 100 because of rounding.

 

Marriage and cohabitation

Percent distribution of females and males 15-44 years of age by responses to specified statements, 2006-2010:

 

"It is better to get married than to go through life being single."

	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

 

"Divorce is usually the best solution when a couple can't seem to work out their marriage problems.''

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	8.6%	34.3%	40.0%	16.1%
Male	7.5%	35.2%	40.2%	16.2%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

"A young couple should not live together unless they are married."

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	8.8%	22.0%	50.3%	18.0%
Male	8.0%	20.0%	55.9%	14.9%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

NOTE: Percentages in the tables on "Marriage and cohabitation" do not add to 100 because the category, "Neither agree nor disagree," is not shown here.

 

Parenthood and childbearing

Percent distribution of females and males 15-44 years of age by responses to specified statements, 2006-2010:

 

"The rewards of being a parent are worth it, despite the cost and work it takes."

	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

 

"It is okay for an unmarried female to have a child."

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	22.8%	55.5%	16.0%	4.3%
Male	11.4%	58.6%	22.7%	5.6%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

"Gay or lesbian adults should have the right to adopt children."

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	23.1%	42.3%	20.1%	11.9%
Male	12.9%	41.8%	24.8%	18.1%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

Note: Percentages do not add up to 100 in the "Parenthood and childbearing" tables above because the category, "Neither agree nor disagree," is not shown separately.

 

"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)

	A great deal	Some	A little	Not at all
Female	37.8%	30.9%	14.8%	16.3%
Male	27.5%	30.5%	19.0%	22.9%

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.)

	Very upset	Little upset	Little pleased	Very pleased
Female	57.5%	29.1%	8.2%	4.8%
Male	46.6%	34.0%	14.3%	4.3%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Sexual activity

Percent distribution of females and males 15-44 years of age by responses to specified statements, 2006-2010:

 

"Any sexual act between two consenting adults is all right."

	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

 

"It is all right for unmarried 18 year olds to have sexual relations if they have strong affection for each other."

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	6.4%	48.9%	28.7%	15.0%
Male	9.3%	52.9%	25.5%	11.2%

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."

	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Female	1.1%	13.7%	42.4%	41.9%
Male	2.2%	18.7%	43.6%	34.5%

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

Note: Percentages in the tables on "Sexual activity" do not add up to 100 because the category, "Neither agree nor disagree," is not shown here.

 

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."

	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

 

"It is much better for everyone if the man earns the main living and the woman takes care of the home and family."

	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

 

"It is more important for a man to spend a lot of time with his family than to be successful at his career."

	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

NOTE: Percentages in the tables on "Work and family" do not add to 100 because the category, "Neither agree nor disagree," is not shown here.