Table 1.

Characteristics of Study Participants Overall and Stratified by Perceived Emotional/Informational Support dichotomized at the median value of 90.

	Overall Sample (N=148)	Perceived emotional/informational support score below median (N=74)	Perceived emotional/informational support score above median (N=74)	P-value
Mean Age, yrs (SD)	61 (12)	60 (11)	61 (14)	0.72
Female, %	51	53	49	0.68
Black, %	44	49	39	0.22
Mean highest educational level (SD)	13 (2.6)	13 (2.3)	13 (2.8)	0.65
Annual household Income, %
<$15,000	42	53	29	0.02
$15,000–$24,999	22	21	22
$25,000–$40,000	19	14	23
>$40,000	19	11	26
Currently Married (vs. Other)*, %	39	34	44	0.20
Self-Rated Health, %
Excellent/Very good/Good	37.8	28	46	0.08
Fair	45	52	38
Poor	17	19	15
Mean CESD score (SD)	9 (6.4)	9.9 (6.8)	7.2 (5.8)	0.01
Mean Blessed test score (SD)	3.3 (2.7)	3.5 (2.6)	3.0 (2.8)	0.17
Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
≥55%	39	38	41	0.92
40–55%	24	24	24
<40%	37	38	35
New York Heart Association, %
	17	14	20	0.33
Class I	54	58	50
Class II	20	17	24
Class III	8	11	5
Class IV

^*Other refers to divorced/separated, widowed, single or unknown