title: The NLSY Kinship Links: Using the NLSY79 and NLSY-Children Data to Conduct Genetically-Informed and Family-Oriented Research.
abstract: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth datasets (NLSY79; NLSY-Children/Young Adults; NLSY97) have extensive family pedigree information contained within them. These data sources are based on probability sampling, a longitudinal design, and a cross-generational and within-family data structure, with hundreds of phenotypes relevant to behavior genetic (BG) researchers, as well as to other developmental and family researchers. These datasets provide a unique and powerful source of information for BG researchers. But much of the information required for biometrical modeling has been hidden, and has required substantial programming effort to uncover-until recently. Our research team has spent over 20 years developing kinship links to genetically inform biometrical modeling. In the most recent release of kinship links from two of the NLSY datasets, the direct kinship indicators included in the 2006 surveys allowed successful and unambiguous linking of over 94 % of the potential pairs. In this paper, we provide details for research teams interested in using the NLSY data portfolio to conduct BG (and other family-oriented) research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Pl, 552, Hobbs 202C, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA. jrodgers@ou.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph Lee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bard
authors.affiliation: Office of Institutional Research, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D Hunter
authors.affiliation: Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Amber B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Alabama State Personnel Department, Prattville, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Maury
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buster
authors.affiliation: HSBC, Schaumburg, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Chengchang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Kim O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Pl, 552, Hobbs 202C, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mason Garrison
authors.affiliation: Transnational Family Research Institute, Aptos, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Warren B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Oord
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005190:Family; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012372:ROC Curve
keywords: Behavior genetics; Biometrical modeling; Cousins; Kinship links; NLSY79; NLSY97; NLSYC; Siblings