TABLE 1—
Participants’ Characteristics: NuAge Study, Quebec, 2004–2006
| Variables | Total (n = 1198; 100%), Mean (SE) or % | Metropolitan (n = 338; 28.2%), Mean (SE) or % | Urban (n = 634; 52.9%), Mean (SE) or % | Rural (n = 226; 18.9%), Mean (SE) or % | P for Comparison Across Areasa |
| Continuous variables | |||||
| Age, y | 73.7 (0.1) | 73.9b (0.1) | 73.2 (0.1) | 72.9 (0.1) | < .001 |
| Disabilityc | 6.1 (0.2) | 6.3d (0.3) | 5.5 (0.2) | 5.4 (0.3) | < .05 |
| Depressive symptomse | 5.0 (0.2) | 5.2 (0.3) | 4.4 (0.2) | 4.5 (0.2) | .05 |
| Family income, in thousands of Can $ | 45.1 (1.2) | 47.4b (1.6) | 38.3 (1.0) | 37.0 (1.2) | < .001 |
| Social participation (no. of activities/mo) | 26.0 (0.7) | 26.3 (0.9) | 24.6 (0.6) | 26.9 (1.1) | .09 |
| Visit family members/friends | 4.9 (0.2) | 4.8 (0.3) | 5.2 (0.2) | 5.5 (0.3) | .23 |
| Engage in a hobby outside of home | 3.5 (0.2) | 3.4 (0.3) | 4.0 (0.2) | 4.4 (0.4) | .08 |
| Attend activities at a community/leisure center | 2.4 (0.2) | 2.4 (0.3) | 2.1 (0.2) | 2.2 (0.2) | .49 |
| Go shopping | 5.0 (0.2) | 5.0 (0.3) | 4.8 (0.3) | 4.7 (0.2) | .76 |
| Go to restaurant/pub/café | 3.8 (0.2) | 3.8f (0.2) | 3.7 (0.1) | 4.7 (0.3) | < .05 |
| Attend a sports or cultural event | 1.5 (0.1) | 1.6b (0.1) | 1.1 (0.1) | 1.1 (0.1) | < .001 |
| Take lessons or courses | 0.8 (0.1) | 0.9 (0.1) | 0.6 (0.1) | 0.6 (0.1) | .12 |
| Participate in a self-help or discussion group | 0.5 (0.1) | 0.6 (0.1) | 0.4 (0.1) | 0.6 (0.1) | .06 |
| Go to a public library or cultural center | 1.2 (0.1) | 1.3g (0.1) | 0.9 (0.1) | 0.6 (0.1) | < .001 |
| Do some volunteer work | 2.4 (0.2) | 2.5 (0.3) | 1.8 (0.2) | 2.5 (0.3) | < .05 |
| Accessibility to key resourcesh | 3.2 (0.0) | 3.3 (0.1) | 3.1 (0.0) | 2.0i (0.1) | < .001 |
| Proximity to neighborhood resourcesj | 3.4 (0.1) | 3.7b (0.2) | 2.6f (0.1) | 2.0 (0.2) | < .001 |
| Quality of social networkk | 2.7 (0.1) | 2.8 (0.1) | 2.6 (0.0) | 2.6 (0.1) | < .05 |
| Availability of helpl | 2.3 (0.0) | 2.3 (0.1) | 2.4 (0.0) | 2.5 (0.1) | .09 |
| Perception of lonelinessm | 1.8 (0.0) | 1.8 (0.0) | 1.9 (0.0) | 1.9 (0.0) | .06 |
| No. of in-person contactsn | 2.0 (0.0) | 2.0f (0.0) | 2.0 (0.0) | 2.2 (0.0) | < .05 |
| Happiness about frequency of contact with others | 69.4 | 69.3 | 68.9 | 73.5 | .76 |
| No. of phone contactso | 2.7 (0.0) | 2.7b (0.0) | 2.6 (0.0) | 2.5 (0.0) | < .01 |
| Availability of confidant | 91.6 | 92.0 | 90.8 | 88.6 | .54 |
| No. of relatives visitingp | 2.8 (0.0) | 2.8 (0.0) | 2.8 (0.0) | 2.9 (0.0) | .06 |
| Residential density of population, in thousands of residents/km2 | 8.5 (0.3) | 10.4b (0.5) | 3.5e (0.1) | 0.5 (0.1) | < .001 |
| Material deprivationq | 2.2 (0.1) | 2.1b (0.1) | 2.6e (0.1) | 3.3 (0.1) | < .001 |
| Social deprivationr | 3.6 (0.1) | 3.7b (0.1) | 3.3e (0.1) | 2.8 (0.1) | < .001 |
| Categorical variabless | |||||
| Women | 60.4 | 60.5 | 60.7 | 56.8 | .18 |
| Education, y | < .001 | ||||
| ≤ 11 | 37.3 | 31.2 | 54.2 | 62.0 | |
| 12–13 | 18.1 | 17.8 | 19.8 | 14.1 | |
| ≥ 14 | 44.6 | 50.9 | 26.0 | 23.9 | |
| Marital status | < .001 | ||||
| Married/common-law | 50.5 | 47.0 | 60.0 | 67.6 | |
| Single | 14.8 | 17.3 | 7.3 | 6.7 | |
| Separated, divorced, or widowed | 34.7 | 35.7 | 32.7 | 25.7 | |
| No. of diseases | < .001 | ||||
| < 2 | 18.9 | 21.0 | 12.8 | 11.3 | |
| 2–4 | 51.4 | 51.2 | 52.4 | 48.2 | |
| > 4 | 29.7 | 27.7 | 34.8 | 40.5 | |
| Lives alone | 38.4 | 41.6 | 30.1 | 23.0 | < .001 |
| Neighborhood living conditions | |||||
| ≥ 20 y lived in current dwelling | 53.5 | 51.9 | 58.1 | 60.0 | .07 |
| ≥ 20 y lived in current neighborhood | 70.4 | 70.7 | 68.7 | 72.9 | .68 |
| Quite or very strong sense of belonging to neighborhood | 79.7 | 78.8 | 80.8 | 90.1 | .07 |
| Children living in neighborhood | 59.8 | 55.6 | 73.1 | 68.3 | < .001 |
| Quite or very easy user-friendliness of walking environment | 95.7 | 96.9 | 93.0 | 87.2 | < .001 |
| Has a driver’s license | 75.8 | 73.4 | 81.9 | 90.4 | < .001 |
| Uses transit | 31.9 | 40.4 | 7.4 | 0 | < .001 |
P value associated with the 1-way analysis of variance, in which a significant P value (P < .05) indicates that at least 2 areas differ.
Metropolitan differs significantly from the other 2 areas (P < .017).
On a scale of 0–87, as measured by SMAF (Functional Autonomy Measurement System) in which higher scores indicate greater disability.
Metropolitan differs significantly from urban area (P < .017).
As measured by Geriatric Depression Scale. A score of 10 or lower indicated the absence of depressive symptoms, 11 to 20 referred to mild depressive symptoms, and 21 to 30 was equal to moderate or severe depressive symptoms.
Urban differs significantly from rural area (P < .017).
Metropolitan differs significantly from rural area (P < .017).
On a scale of 0-4, with higher numbers indicating greater accessibility to key resources.
Rural differs significantly from the other 2 areas (P < .017).
On a scale of 0–12, with higher numbers indicating higher proximity to resources.
On a scale of 1–6, as measured by Older American Resources and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire, with higher numbers indicating greater impairment.
On a scale of 0–3, with higher numbers indicating greater availability of help.
On a scale of 0–2, with higher numbers indicating less perceived loneliness.
On a scale of 0–3, with higher numbers indicating greater number of in-person contacts.
On a scale of 0–3, with higher numbers indicating greater number of phone contacts.
On a scale of 0–3, with higher numbers indicating greater number of relatives visiting.
On a scale of 1–5, with higher numbers indicating greater material deprivation.
On a scale of 1–5, with higher numbers indicating greater social deprivation.
P value associated with χ2 test, in which a significant P value (P < .05) indicates that at least 2 areas differ.