Developing Sampling Weights for Statistical Analysis of Parent-Child Pair Data From the National Health Interview Survey.

Abstract

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics since 1957, is the principal source of information on the health of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. NHIS selects one adult (Sample Adult) and, when applicable, one child (Sample Child) randomly within a family (through 2018) or a household (2019 and forward). Sampling weights for the separate analysis of data from Sample Adults and Sample Children are provided annually by the National Center for Health Statistics. A growing interest in analysis of parent-child pair data using NHIS has been observed, which necessitated the development of appropriate analytic weights. Objective This report explains how dyad weights were created such that data users can analyze NHIS data from both Sample Children and their mothers or fathers, respectively. Methods Using data from the 2019 NHIS, adult-child pair-level sampling weights were developed by combining each pair's conditional selection probability with their household-level sampling weight. The calculated pair weights were then adjusted for pair-level nonresponse, and large sampling weights were trimmed at the 99th percentile of the derived sampling weights. Examples of analyzing parent-child pair data by means of domain estimation methods (that is, statistical analysis for subpopulations or subgroups) are included in this report. Conclusions The National Center for Health Statistics has created dyad or pair weights that can be used for studies using parent-child pairs in NHIS. This method could potentially be adapted to other surveys with similar sampling design and statistical needs.