Table 1. Sample Characteristics at Baseline, by Race/Ethnicity (n=423).
| Characteristics | African American (n=146) |
Caucasian (n=277) |
P-Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years), Mean ± SD | 46.0 ± 2.5 | 46.2 ± 2.6 | 0.57 |
| Education, n (%) | 0.41 | ||
| ≤ High school degree | 36 (25) | 64 (23) | |
| Some college / vocational training | 59 (40) | 98 (35) | |
| ≥ College degree | 51 (35) | 115 (42) | |
| Currently working, n (%) | 125 (86) | 229(83) | 0.53 |
| Paying for basics, n (%) | 0.0001 | ||
| Very hard | 18 (12) | 11 (4) | |
| Somewhat hard | 47 (32) | 63 (23) | |
| Not very hard | 80 (55) | 203 (73) | |
| Married, n (%) | 58 (40) | 225 (81) | <0.0001 |
| Depressive symptom severityc , range 0-60, Median [IQR] |
8 [3, 18] | 9 [3, 15] | 0.42 |
| Very upsetting life events, n (%) | 0.19 | ||
| None | 61 (42) | 141 (51) | |
| One | 38 (26) | 56 (20) | |
| Two or more | 46 (32) | 80(29) | |
| Perceived life stressd , range 4-20, Median [IQR] |
9 [6, 11] | 8 [6, 11] | 0.64 |
| Trait anxietye , range 0-30, Median [IQR] | 5 [1,11] | 7 [3, 12) | 0.01 |
| Optimism f, range 0-18, Median [IQR] | 14 [11, 16] | 14 [10, 16] | 0.40 |
| Private self-consciousness g, range 0-30, Mean ± SD |
16.8 ± 4.6 | 16.0 ± 4.8 | 0.11 |
| Medical conditionshever, n (%) | 122 (84) | 182(66) | 0.0001 |
| Early perimenopausal status, n (%) | 69 (47) | 131(48) | 0.91 |
| Body mass index, Mean ± SD | 31.2 ± 6.9 | 27.8 ± 6.0 | <.0001 |
| Perceived overall health, n (%) | <0.0001 | ||
| Excellent | 18 (12) | 83 (30) | |
| Very good | 57 (39) | 130 (47) | |
| Good | 53 (37) | 55 (20) | |
| Fair / Poor | 17 (12) | 7 (3) | |
| Low role physical functioningi, n (%) | 47 (32) | 69 (25) | 0.11 |
| Low vitality/energy levelj, n (%) | 43 (29) | 81 (29) | 0.96 |
| Low role emotional functioning k, n (%) | 51 (35) | 94 (34) | 0.84 |
| Current medications,l n (%) | 42 (30) | 38 (14) | 0.0001 |
| Medication for nerves/depression, n (%) | 10 (7) | 42 (15) | 0.01 |
| Sleep problems, n (%) | 48 (33) | 83 (30) | 0.54 |
| Depression in the past year, n (%) | 0.35 | ||
| None | 130 (89) | 258 (93) | |
| Subsyndromal | 10 (7) | 12 (4) | |
| Major | 6 (4) | 7 (3) | |
| Lifetime history of depression, n (%) | 46 (32) | 105 (38) | 0.19 |
| Depression profile, n (%) | 0.41 | ||
| None | 65 (45) | 142 (51) | |
| Single | 26 (18) | 45 (16) | |
| Persistent / Recurrent | 55 (38) | 90 (32) | |
| Anxiety disorder in the past year, n (%) | 16 (11) | 32 (12) | 0.85 |
| Lifetime history of anxiety disorder, n (%) | 34 (23) | 71 (26) | 0.60 |
Abbreviations: IQR, interquartile range; SD, standard deviation.
Ns for each characteristic vary slightly because of random missing data.
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Scale-Depression
Perceived Stress Scale
State-Trait Personality Inventory
Life Orientation Test
Self Consciousness Scale-Revised
Medical conditions included, anemia, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis/osteoarthritis, over/under active thyroid, heart attack/angina, cancer (other than skin), fibroids, and osteoporosis.
Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36, Role Physical Functioning Scale
Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36, Vitality Scale
Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36, Role Emotional Functioning Scale
Included currently taking medications to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, heart attack/angina, cancer (other than skin), fibroids, and osteoporosis.