Table 1.

Sample Characteristics: Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, 1957 to 2004

Variable	M (SD) or Proportion	Valid n
Perceived closeness with sibling (2003)	3.08 (.84)	4,413
Not at all close	0.06
Not very close	0.15
Somewhat close	0.46
Very close	0.34
Parent died, received EOL questions	0.26	4,413
Parent died, did not receive EOL questions	0.15	4,413
Parent did not die in the past 10 years	0.59	4,413
Parental EOL planning
Deceased parent had a living will (1 = yes)	0.58	1,168
Living will helped	0.44	680
Living will had no effect	0.54	680
Living will caused problems	0.02	680
Deceased parent named a DPAHC (1 = yes)	0.73	1,168
DPAHC helped	0.42	857
DPAHC had no effect	0.55	857
DPAHC caused problems	0.03	857
Named spouse as DPAHC	0.47	857
Named child as DPAHC	0.50	857
Named another person as DPAHC	0.03	857
Preloss relationship with sibling
Perceived closeness with sibling (1993)	3.07 (.81)	4,413
Not at all close	0.05
Not very close	0.16
Somewhat close	0.48
Very close	0.32
Perceived similarity with sibling (1993)	2.91 (.80)	4,413
Not at all similar	0.07
Not very similar	0.17
Somewhat similar	0.54
Very similar	0.22
Frequency of contact (1993)	6.75 (24.07)	4,413
Characteristics of parental death
Months between interview and death	67.04 (16.32)	4,413
Respondent gave care to deceased parent (1 = yes)	0.15
One parent is still alive	0.27
Structural aspects of sibling relations
Respondent’s sex (1 = female)	0.54	4,413
Sibling’s sex (1 = female)	0.51	4,413
Number of living siblings	3.40 (2.33)	4,413
Demographic characteristics
Educational attainment
12 years of education	0.55	4,413
13 to 15 years of education	0.16	4,413
≥16 years of education	0.29	4,413
Marital status
Currently married	0.80	4,413
Never married	0.04	4,413
Formerly married	0.16	4,413
Has children (1 = yes)	0.93	4,413
Depressive symptoms
Depressive symptoms (CES-D) (2003)	0.68 (.69)	4,413

Note: EOL = end-of-life; DPAHC = durable power of attorney for health care; CES-D = Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.