Table 1.
Sociodemographic and health characteristics of the sample
| Variables | Meditators | Nonmeditators | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociodemographics | |||
| Gender (male)a | 14/20 (70 %) | 14/20 (70 %) | X 2 = 0.0; df = 1; p = 1 |
| Age (mean, SD)a | 48.55 (8.05) | 48.30 (8.76) | t = 0.094; df = 38; p = 0.926 |
| Ethnic group (white)a | 20/20 (100 %) | 20/20 (100 %) | X 2 = 0; df = 1; p = 1 |
| Live with partner (%) | 17/20 (85 %) | 18/20 (90 %) | X 2 = 0.229; df = 1; p = 0.663 |
| Years of education (mean, SD) | 14.25 (4.37) | 12.60 (3.11) | t = 1.37; df = 38; p = 0.178 |
| Healthy habits | |||
| Tobacco (>10 cigarettes/day) | 3/20 (15 %) | 5/20 (25 %) | X 2 = 0.625; df = 1; p = 0.429 |
| Alcoholb | 0/20 (0 %) | 0/20 (0 %) | X 2 = 0; df = 1; p = 1 |
| Medications | 0/20 (0 %) | 0/20 (0 %) | X 2 = 0; df = 1; p = 1 |
| Vegetarian diet | 0/20 (0 %) | 0/20 (0 %) | X 2 = 0; df = 1; p = 1 |
| Body mass index (mean, SD) | 25.25 (1.50) | 23.79 (1.96) | t = 2.63; df = 38; p = 0.012* |
| Exercise (>3 h/week) | 1/20 (5 %) | 7/20 (35 %) | X 2 = 5.65; df = 1: p = 0.048* |
| Medical disorders | |||
| Diabetes | 1/20 (5 %) | 3/20 (15 %) | X 2 = 1.111; df = 1; p = 0.292 |
| Hypertriglyceridemia | 1/20 (5 %) | 3/20 (15 %) | X 2 = 1.111; df = 1; p = 0.292 |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 1/20 (5 %) | 3/20 (15 %) | X 2 = 1.111; df = 1; p = 0.292 |
| Hypertension | 3/20 (15 %) | 4/20 (20 %) | X 2 = 0.173; df = 1; p = 0.677 |
| Arthrosis | 1/20 (5 %) | 3/20 (15 %) | X 2 = 1.111; df = 1; p = 0.292 |
*p < 0.05
aMatched variables
b>4 units/day for men or >3 units/day for women