120000 SOCIALIZING, RELAXING, AND LEISURE

Category Description

2003: Socializing includes face-to-face social communication with others and hosting or attending parties, receptions, ceremonies, and meetings. Time spent communicating with others using the telephone, mail, or e-mail is not part of this category. Leisure activities include relaxing; playing computer, board, or card games (unless playing with children only); watching television; using a computer or the internet for personal interest; playing or listening to music; reading; writing; and all hobbies. Leisure activities that are active in nature, such as yard games like croquet or horseshoes, are classified under Sports, Exercise, and Recreation.

2004+: This category captures social activities such as communicating with others and attending parties and meetings; and leisure activities such as relaxing, playing (passive) games (unless playing with children only), watching television, playing or listening to music, reading, writing, and all hobbies. Arts, cultural, and entertainment activities also are coded here, and include attending events or shows related to nature (zoo, arboretum), the arts (galleries, poetry readings), amusement (amusement parks, circus, sightseeing), and performance (plays, ballet). All activities that fall under this category are those done for personal interest or leisure.

Activity Coding Rules

Face-to-face talking with family, friends, neighbors, or acquaintances

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Socializing and Communicating/Socializing and communicating with others (120101).

Talking exclusively to non-household child/children

2003+: Code as Caring for and Helping Non-Household Members/Caring for and Helping Non-Household Children/Talking with or listening to non-household children (040106).

Talking with household child and non-household child

2003+: Code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/Talking with or listening to household children (030106).

Kissing hello or goodbye

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Socializing and Communicating/Socializing and communicating with others (120101), not as Personal Care/Personal Activities (010400).

Talking with son/daughter/household child

2003+: If child is under age 18, code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/Talking with or listening to household children (030106). Do not code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Socializing and Communicating/Socializing and communicating with others (120101), unless talking to child and other adults.

Talking with waiters and waitresses or restaurant cashiers

2003: Code as Eating and Drinking/Eating and Drinking/Eating and drinking (110101). Exception: Talking with cashier when picking up or purchasing take-out food should be coded under Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/Purchasing food (not groceries) (070103).

2004+: Code as Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/Purchasing food (not groceries) (070103). (Updated: February 2004)

Talking with people who are present at a restaurant meal

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Socializing and Communicating/Socializing and communicating with others (120101).

Talking to/meeting with providers of professional or personal care services

2003+: Code as Professional and Personal Care Services under the relevant service (080000). Exception: If talking on the telephone is specified, then code as Telephone Calls (to or from) (160100). If the professional or personal care services were provided to someone other than the respondent, then code in the relevant Caring for and Helping Household Members (030000) or Caring for and Helping Non-household Members (040000) category. (Updated: February 2012).

Accompanying someone while they run errands

2003+: Code under Socializing, Relaxing, and Communicating/Socializing and Communicating/Socializing and communicating with others (120101), unless respondent is also doing the errand, in which case code to the respondent's errand activity.

Giving gifts

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Socializing and Communicating/Socializing and communicating with others (120101). Exception: Giving gifts to children should be coded as Caring for and Helping Household (or Non-Household) Members/Caring for and Helping Household (or Non-Household) Children/Caring for and helping household (or non-household) children, n.e.c. (030199 or 040199).

Opening gifts

2003: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Attending or Hosting Social Events/Attending or hosting parties, receptions, or ceremonies (120201). Exceptions: Code opening gifts alone as Household Activities/Housework/Storing interior household items, including food (020104).

2004+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Socializing and Communicating/Socializing and communicating with others (120101). Exceptions: Code opening gifts alone or opening packages as Household Activities/Household Management/Household and personal organization and planning (020902). (Updated: February 2004)

Attending meetings (respondent's own)

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Attending or Hosting Social Events/Attending meetings for personal interest (not volunteering) (120202). Exceptions: Attending meetings that are part of the respondent's extracurricular school activities should be coded under Education (060000).

Insomnia

2003+: Code as Sleeplessness (010102). Exception: If the respondent mentions thinking or worrying, code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Relaxing, thinking (120301).

Resting because of illness or injury

2003+: Code as Personal Care/Health- Related Self Care/Health-related self-care (010301), not as sleeping or relaxing.

Singing

2004+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Listening to or playing music (not radio) (120306). This includes "singing karaoke," "singing Christmas carols," and similar activities. (Added: February 2004)

Reading

2005+: Code reading for personal interest as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Reading for personal interest (120312). Code reading for school as Education/Research or Homework/type of class (060300). Code reading for work as Work and Work-Related Activities/Working/Work, main job or Work, other job(s) (050101 or 050102).

Reading or studying the Bible/Koran/Torah/other Holy Scriptures/devotions

2003-2006: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Reading for personal interest (120312). Exception: If "for class for degree" or "for class for personal interest" is in the verbatim, code as Education/Taking Class/Taking class for degree, certification, or licensure (060101) or Education/Taking Class/Taking class for personal interest (060102).

2007+: If the respondent reported "reading/studying the Bible" or "reading/studying the [Koran/Torah/other Holy Scriptures/devotions]," code as Religious and Spiritual Activities/Religious or Spiritual Practices/Participation in religious practices (140102). Exception: If the respondent reported reading/studying scriptures for a religious class, such as "reading the Bible for Sunday school," code as Religious and Spiritual Activities/Religious or Spiritual Practices/Religious education activities (140105). (Modified: January 2007)

Attending weddings

2003+: Code as Religious and Spiritual Activities/Religious or Spiritual Practices/Attending religious services (140101).

Attending receptions (including wedding receptions)

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Attending or Hosting Social Events/Attending or hosting parties, receptions, or ceremonies (120201).

Attending a household child's performance or event

2003+: Code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/Attending household children's events (030110).

Attending a non-household child's performance or event

2003+: Code as Caring for and Helping Non-Household Members/Caring for and Helping Non-Household Children/Attending non-household children's events (040110).

Watching video/DVD movies at home or another's home

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Television and movies (not religious) (120303).

Watching movies at a theatre

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Arts and Entertainment (other than sports)/Attending movies or film (120403).

Watching sports on TV

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Television and movies (not religious) (120303).

Borrowing movies from the library or looking for movies at the library

2004+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Television and movies (not religious) (120303). (Added: February 2004)

Listening to the stereo

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Listening to or playing music (not radio) (120306).

Listening to music

2004+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Listening to or playing music (not radio) (120306). Exception: If "radio" is mentioned, code as Listening to the radio (120305). (Added: February 2004)

Chatting on the internet/Participating in online chat rooms

2004+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Computer use for leisure (excluding games) (120308). (Added: February 2004; Modified: January 2018)

Making videos/Videotaping

2004+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Arts and crafts as a hobby (120309). (Added: February 2004; Modified: January 2018)

Listening to books on tape/audio books

2004+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Reading for personal interest (120312). (Added: February 2004; Modified: January 2018)

Unpaid performance arts activities

2003+: If done by respondent, code as Volunteer Activities/Participating in Performance and Cultural Activities/Performing (150401).

Playing games on the computer (including internet games)

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Playing games (120307).

Using the computer

2003+: Code the activity the respondent did as the primary activity. For example, if the respondent used the computer to search for work, code as Job Search and Interviewing (050400). If the respondent used the computer to pay bills or for financial management, code as Household Activities/Household Management/Financial management (020901). If used for playing games, code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Playing games (120307). If respondent reports computer use for leisure or can't/won't specify the purpose, code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Computer use for leisure (excluding games) (120308).

Hobbies

2003+: If respondent is paid or expects to be paid for hobbies, code as Work and Work-Related Activities/Other Income-Generating Activities (050300). If unpaid, code the relevant hobby as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/relevant hobby category (120300).

Security procedures

2003+: If respondent reports undergoing security procedures (such as "passing through the metal detector," "being searched at security checkpoint," "opening bags for security search") related to arts and entertainment activities, code as Security procedures related to arts and entertainment (120405).

Visiting an adult (household or non-household) in the hospital/nursing home

2005+: Code as Socializing and communicating with others (120101). (Added: November 2004)

Writing music

2005+: If a respondent reports "writing music" and it is not clear whether they were writing lyrics or composing music, code it as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Writing for personal interest (120313). If the respondent reports "composing music," code it as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Listening to or playing music (not radio) (120306). (Added: March 2005)

Attending dance performance

2012+: If a respondent reports "watching dance performance," code it as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Arts and Entertainment (other than sports)/Attending performing arts (120401) unless the verbatim specifies that the dancing was considered a sport or competition. If that is the case, code it as Sports, Exercise, and Recreation/Attending Sporting/Recreational Events/Watching dancing (130209). (See rules for attending a household/non-household children's performance or event if it is a household or non-household child's dance performance.) (Updated: February 2012)

Book-related library activities

2016+: If a respondent reports borrowing or checking out books from a library, returning books to a library, or browsing for books at a library, then assign the code Reading for personal interest (120312). Exception: If the respondent identified the activity as a work, income-generating, or volunteer activity in the summary questions, then assign the appropriate work, income-generating, or volunteer code. (Added: March 2016)

  • 120100 SOCIALIZING AND COMMUNICATING

    • 120101 SOCIALIZING AND COMMUNICATING WITH OTHERS

      Category activity examples

      • Accompanying family while they run errands
      • Accompanying family/friends to look at family/friend's new house (2005+)
      • Accompanying friends while they run errands
      • Arguing with family
      • Arguing with friends
      • Entertaining family
      • Entertaining friends
      • Giving gifts to friends
      • Giving presents to adults
      • Greeting family
      • Greeting friends
      • Greeting neighbors/acquaintances
      • Greeting other parents
      • Hanging out with family
      • Hanging out with friends
      • Hugging or kissing family
      • Hugging/kissing acquaintances/others
      • Hugging/kissing friends
      • Hugging/kissing neighbors
      • Opening birthday presents (with others) (2004+)
      • Opening Christmas gifts (with others) (2004+)
      • Opening gifts (with others) (2004+)
      • Opening wedding presents (with others) (2004+)
      • Spending time with family
      • Spending time with friends
      • Talking to/with other parents
      • Talking with acquaintances
      • Talking with family
      • Talking with friends
      • Talking with neighbors
      • Visiting adult in nursing home (2005+)
      • Visiting household/non-household adult in hospital (2005-2007)
      • Visiting with family
      • Visiting with friends

    • 120199 SOCIALIZING AND COMMUNICATING, N.E.C.

  • 120200 ATTENDING OR HOSTING SOCIAL EVENTS

    • 120201 ATTENDING OR HOSTING PARTIES, RECEPTIONS, OR CEREMONIES

      Category activity examples

      • Attending a charity social event
      • Attending bachelor/ette party
      • Attending birthday parties
      • Attending graduation ceremonies (for adults)
      • Attending holiday open house (2004+)
      • Attending housewarming (2004+)
      • Attending parties
      • Attending receptions
      • Opening birthday presents (2003)

    • 120202 ATTENDING MEETINGS FOR PERSONAL INTEREST (NOT VOLUNTEERING)

      Category activity examples

      • Attending a Boy Scout/Girl Scout meeting (for self)
      • Attending a church circle meeting (2003-2017)
      • Attending a fraternal lodge meeting
      • Attending a homeowner's association meeting
      • Attending a senior citizens meeting
      • Attending a Weight Watchers meeting (2007+)
      • Attending AA meetings
      • Attending an Al-anon meeting
      • Attending book club meetings
      • Attending club meetings (not school)
      • Attending fraternity/sorority meetings
      • Attending professional meetings (not work)

    • 120299 ATTENDING OR HOSTING SOCIAL EVENTS, N.E.C.

  • 120300 RELAXING AND LEISURE

    • 120301 RELAXING, THINKING

      Category activity examples

      • Breaks at work, unspecified activity
      • Daydreaming
      • Doing nothing/goofing off/wasting time
      • Fantasizing
      • Grieving
      • Hanging around/hanging out (2003)
      • Hanging around/hanging out (alone) (2004+)
      • Lying around (2007)
      • Reflecting
      • Resting/relaxing/lounging
      • Sitting around
      • Sitting in the hot tub/Jacuzzi/whirlpool (2004+)
      • Sitting in the sauna (2004+)
      • Sunbathing
      • Thinking (2003-2004)
      • Watching husband assemble lawnmower
      • Watching husband cook dinner
      • Watching wife garden
      • Wondering
      • Worrying/crying

    • 120302 TOBACCO AND DRUG USE

      Category activity examples

      • Chewing tobacco
      • Having a cigarette
      • Rolling a cigarette
      • Smoking a cigarette/cigar/pipe
      • Smoking marijuana/pot/weed
      • Using recreational drugs
      • Vaping (2020+)

    • 120303 TELEVISION AND MOVIES (NOT RELIGIOUS)

      Category activity examples

      • Borrowing movies from the library
      • Returning movies to library
      • Rewinding a tape or DVD (2003-2004)
      • Setting TiVo/DVR (2011+)
      • Setting the VCR or DVD player
      • Streaming movies (2020+)
      • Watching a DVD/video/instructional video
      • Watching home movies/home videos
      • Watching shows on Netflix/Hulu or similar technology (2020+)
      • Watching TV
      • Watching TV/DVDs on computer (personal interest) (2011+)
      • Watching videos on YouTube (2011+)

    • 120304 TELEVISION (RELIGIOUS)

      Category activity examples

      • Watching religious broadcasting

    • 120305 LISTENING TO THE RADIO

      Category activity examples

      • Listening to a radio talk show
      • Listening to a podcast on Amazon Echo or similar technology (2020+)
      • Listening to music on the radio
      • Listening to Pandora (2016+)
      • Listening to podcast (2015+)
      • Listening to public radio
      • Listening to the top ten on the radio
      • Listening to the news on Alexa or similar technology (2020+)

    • 120306 LISTENING TO OR PLAYING MUSIC (NOT RADIO)

      Category activity examples

      • Christmas caroling (2004+)
      • Composing music (2005+)
      • Listening to recorded music
      • Listening to records/CDs/DVDs/tapes
      • Listening to someone play the piano
      • Playing musical instrument (leisure)
      • Singing (2004+)
      • Singing karaoke (2004+)
      • Tuning musical instruments

    • 120307 PLAYING GAMES

      Category activity examples

      • Hiding Easter eggs (2004+)
      • Hiding matzo (Passover) (2004+)
      • Hitting a piñata (2004+)
      • Playing bingo (2020+)
      • Playing board games/playing cards
      • Playing computer games
      • Playing games over the internet
      • Playing poker (2020+)
      • Playing Scrabble
      • Spinning dreidels (2004+)
      • Working jigsaw puzzles/crossword puzzles

    • 120308 COMPUTER USE FOR LEISURE (EXCLUDING GAMES)

      Category activity examples

      • Browsing on the internet (personal interest)
      • Burning CDs (personal interest) (2006+)
      • Checking Facebook, MySpace, or other social networking Web sites (personal interest) (2011)
      • Checking Facebook (personal interest) (2012-2014)
      • Checking Facebook/Instagram (personal interest) (2015-2017)
      • Checking Facebook/Instagram (2018+)
      • Checking MySpace (personal interest) (2012-2017)
      • Checking MySpace (2018)
      • Computer programming (personal interest) (2012+)
      • Computer use, leisure (personal interest)
      • Computer use, unspecified
      • Designing/updating website (personal interest)
      • Downloading files, music, pictures (personal interest)
      • Participating in a chat room (personal interest)
      • Surfing the internet (personal interest)
      • Surfing the web (personal interest)
      • Using Twitter or tweeting (personal interest) (2011-2017)
      • Using Twitter or tweeting (2018+)
      • Writing computer software (personal interest) (2012+)

    • 120309 ARTS AND CRAFTS AS A HOBBY

      Category activity examples

      • Artistic painting
      • Dyeing Easter eggs (2004+)
      • Jewelry making
      • Making a TikTok video (2020+)
      • Making Christmas decorations (2004+)
      • Making Halloween costumes (for self) (2004+)
      • Making holiday/other decorations
      • Making podcast (2020+)
      • Making pottery/sculpting
      • Model making
      • Photography
      • Putting pictures in albums (2003)
      • Scrapbooking, making a scrapbook (2007+)
      • Sketching/Drawing (2015+)
      • Stringing popcorn (2004)
      • Taking photographs
      • Taking pictures (2004+)
      • Taking snapshots (2004+)
      • Videotaping (2004+)
      • Wood working

    • 120310 COLLECTING AS A HOBBY

      Category activity examples

      • Collecting/organizing stamps (2005+)
      • Organizing coin collection

    • 120311 HOBBIES, EXCEPT ARTS AND CRAFTS AND COLLECTING

      Category activity examples

      • Bird watching
      • Researching family tree

    • 120312 READING FOR PERSONAL INTEREST

      Category activity examples

      • Being read to (personal interest)
      • Borrowing books from the library (personal interest)
      • Browsing at the library (personal interest)
      • Checking out library books (personal interest)
      • Doing research (personal interest)
      • Flipping/leafing through magazine (personal interest)
      • Listening to books on tape (personal interest) (2003-2019)
      • Listening to books on tape/audio books (personal interest) (2020)
      • Reading a book on a Kindle or other electronic book reader (personal interest) (2011+)
      • Reading a magazine/book (personal interest)
      • Reading scripture (personal interest)
      • Reading the Bible (personal interest)
      • Reading the newspaper (personal interest)
      • Reading, unspecified
      • Returning library books

    • 120313 WRITING FOR PERSONAL INTEREST

      Category activity examples

      • Blogging (personal interest) (2011+)
      • Editing (personal interest) (2004+)
      • Writing in diary (personal interest)
      • Writing in journal (personal interest)
      • Writing lyrics (2005+)
      • Writing stories (personal interest)

    • 120399 RELAXING AND LEISURE, N.E.C.

      Category activity examples

      • Looking at photos on computer or camera (2007+)
      • Looking at pictures in photo album (2007+)

  • 120400 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT (OTHER THAN SPORTS)

    • 120401 ATTENDING PERFORMING ARTS

      Category activity examples

      • Attending a concert
      • Attending comedy club
      • Attending dance troupe performances
      • Attending jazz bar (2004+)
      • Attending musicals
      • Attending opera
      • Attending plays
      • Attending the ballet
      • Attending the theater

    • 120402 ATTENDING MUSEUMS

      Category activity examples

      • Attending a botanical garden
      • Attending an arboretum
      • Attending an art gallery
      • Attending exhibitions
      • Visiting the zoo

    • 120403 ATTENDING MOVIES OR FILM

      Category activity examples

      • Attending the movies (2005+)

    • 120404 ATTENDING GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS

      Category activity examples

      • Attending a casino
      • Betting on the horses
      • Gambling
      • Playing craps
      • Playing keno

    • 120405 SECURITY PROCEDURES RELATED TO ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

      Category activity examples

      • Being searched at security checkpoint (art/entertainment)
      • Opening bags for security search (art/entertainment)
      • Passing through metal detector (art/entertainment)

    • 120499 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, N.E.C.

      Category activity examples

      • Attending a book signing
      • Attending a carnival
      • Attending a festival
      • Attending a flower show
      • Attending a poetry reading
      • Attending an amusement park
      • Attending an art/history/music lecture
      • Attending an auto show
      • Attending the circus
      • Attending the county fair
      • Participating in an escape room (2020+)
      • Setting off fireworks (2004-2007)
      • Sightseeing (2003-2004, 2014+)
      • Taking a guided nature walk
      • Visiting historic sites
      • Watching a parade/fireworks

  • 120500 WAITING ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIALIZING, RELAXING, AND LEISURE

  • 129900 SOCIALIZING, RELAXING, AND LEISURE, N.E.C.