Description
For all current and institutionalized persons, LMTPHYSRD indicates if the person has any functional limitations. Respondents were asked "Does anyone in the family have difficulties walking, climbing stairs, grasping objects, reaching overhead, lifting, bending or stooping, or standing for long periods of time?" If the answer was yes, the respondent was asked to identify which members of the household had these difficulties.
If no one in the family had these limitations, all members of the family are coded as 'No' (1). For families that responded with 'Refused' (7), 'Not Ascertained' (8), or 'Don't Know' (9), all members of the family were assigned the family-level response. If the response to the family screener question was 'Yes' (2) but no family members were identified as having difficulties, everyone in the family was coded as 'Don't Know.
Family members age 13 and older who had functional limitations were asked a series of follow-up questions about each activity listed. These limitations are:
- Difficulty lifting 10 pounds (LMTLIFT)
- Difficulty walking up 10 steps
- Difficulty walking 3 blocks (LMTWALK)
- Difficulty walking a mile
- Difficulty standing 20 minutes
- Difficulty bending or stooping (LMTBEND)
- Difficulty reaching over head
- Difficulty using fingers to grasp
Collection frequency and timing for LMTPHYSRD change over time. In 1996, the question for LMTPHYSRD was asked in round 1. From 1997-2016 the question was asked in rounds 1, 3, and 5. In 2020 and 2021 this question was fielded multiple times across the panels extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2017-2019 and 2022 forward, these questions were only asked once per year and those responses are recorded in the annual-level variable LMTPHYS.
LMTPHYSRD is one of a series of variables about limitations and disability available in IPUMS MEPS. A complete list of these variables can be found in the description for ANYLMT.
Codes and Frequencies
Universe
- 1996-2016: All current or institutionalized persons.
- 2020: All current or institutionalized persons in Panel 23 Round 7, Panel 24 Rounds 3 and 5, or Panel 25 Rounds 1 and 3.
- 2021: All current or institutionalized persons in Panel 23 Round 7, Panel 24 Rounds 5 and 7, Panel 25 Round 3, or Panel 26 Rounds 1 and 3.
Availability
- 1996-2016, 2020-2021
Weights
- 1996-2016, 2020-2021 : PERWEIGHT
