Table 1.
Mean number of days U.S. adults felt sad, blue or depressed (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System)*
| Males | Females | Males & Females | |||||||
| N | Mean | 95% CI | N | Mean | 95% CI | N | Mean | 95% CI | |
| Demographic, behavioral risk group variable | |||||||||
| 5 year age group | |||||||||
| 18–19 yrs. | 1,704 | 2.8 | 2.4–3.2 | 1,914 | 4.5 | 4.0–5.0 | 3,618 | 3.6 | 3.2–3.9 |
| 20–24 yrs. | 4,899 | 2.8 | 2.5–3.0 | 6,697 | 4.0 | 3.7–4.2 | 11,596 | 3.4 | 3.2–3.6 |
| 25–29 yrs | 6,439 | 2.4 | 2.2–2.6 | 8,881 | 3.4 | 3.2–3.6 | 15,320 | 2.9 | 2.7–3.1 |
| 30–34 yrs. | 7,163 | 2.2 | 2.0–2.4 | 10,016 | 3.6 | 3.4–3.8 | 17,179 | 2.9 | 2.7–3.0 |
| 35–39 yrs. | 7,763 | 2.5 | 2.3–2.6 | 11,061 | 3.9 | 3.7–4.1 | 18,824 | 3.2 | 3.0–3.3 |
| 40–44 yrs. | 7,589 | 2.6 | 2.4–2.8 | 10,430 | 3.7 | 3.5–3.9 | 18,019 | 3.2 | 3.0–3.3 |
| 45–49 yrs. | 6,729 | 2.7 | 2.5–2.9 | 9,297 | 3.8 | 3.5–4.0 | 16,026 | 3.2 | 3.0–3.4 |
| 50–54 yrs. | 5,722 | 2.6 | 2.4–2.9 | 7,986 | 3.8 | 3.5–4.1 | 13,708 | 3.2 | 3.0–3.4 |
| 55–59 yrs. | 4,525 | 2.2 | 1.9–2.4 | 6,424 | 3.6 | 3.3–3.9 | 10,949 | 3.0 | 2.7–3.2 |
| 60–64 yrs. | 3,806 | 2.2 | 1.9–2.6 | 5,489 | 3.2 | 2.9–3.4 | 9,295 | 2.7 | 2.5–2.9 |
| 65–69 yrs. | 3,733 | 1.8 | 1.6–2.1 | 5,905 | 2.6 | 2.4–2.9 | 9,638 | 2.3 | 2.1–2.5 |
| 70–74 yrs. | 3,232 | 1.9 | 1.6–2.2 | 5,629 | 2.8 | 2.5–3.1 | 8,861 | 2.4 | 2.2–2.6 |
| 75–79 yrs. | 2,287 | 2.2 | 1.8–2.5 | 4,627 | 2.8 | 2.5–3.1 | 6,914 | 2.5 | 2.3–2.8 |
| 80–84 yrs. | 1,270 | 2.3 | 1.8–2.8 | 2,949 | 2.6 | 2.3–3.0 | 4,219 | 2.5 | 2.2–2.8 |
| 85+ yrs. | 616 | 2.4 | 1.7–3.1 | 1,782 | 3.1 | 2.6–3.7 | 2,398 | 2.9 | 2.4–3.4 |
| All categories | 67,477 | 2.4 | 2.2–2.5 | 99,087 | 3.5 | 3.4–3.6 | 166,564 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
| Race/ethnicity | |||||||||
| Asian/Pacific | |||||||||
| Islander | 1,098 | 1.6 | 1.2–2.0 | 1,216 | 2.5 | 2.0–2.9 | 2,314 | 2.0 | 1.7–2.3 |
| White | 54,502 | 2.3 | 2.2–2.4 | 77,761 | 3.3 | 3.3–3.4 | 132,263 | 2.8 | 2.7–2.9 |
| Hispanic | 4,395 | 2.9 | 2.5–3.2 | 6,455 | 4.3 | 3.9–4.6 | 10,850 | 3.6 | 3.3–3.8 |
| Black | 5,852 | 2.9 | 2.7–3.2 | 11,463 | 4.5 | 4.2–4.7 | 17,315 | 3.8 | 3.6–4.0 |
| Native American | |||||||||
| Indian/Alaska | |||||||||
| Native | 679 | 3.0 | 2.3–3.7 | 956 | 5.0 | 4.1–5.9 | 1,635 | 4.0 | 3.4–4.6 |
| Other | 431 | 3.0 | 2.0–4.0 | 538 | 5.2 | 4.0–6.4 | 969 | 4.2 | 3.2–5.1 |
| All categories | 66,526 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 97,851 | 3.6 | 3.4–3.7 | 165,346 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
| Education | |||||||||
| < High school | 7,772 | 3.7 | 3.4–4.0 | 12,468 | 5.6 | 5.3–5.9 | 20,240 | 4.7 | 4.5–4.9 |
| HS graduate | 20,727 | 2.6 | 2.4–2.7 | 32,902 | 3.8 | 3.7–3.9 | 53,629 | 3.2 | 3.1–3.3 |
| Some college | 17,770 | 2.4 | 2.2–2.5 | 27,700 | 3.4 | 3.3–3.5 | 45,470 | 2.9 | 2.8–3.0 |
| College graduate | 21,068 | 1.7 | 1.6–1.8 | 25,826 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 46,894 | 2.0 | 1.9–2.1 |
| All categories | 67,337 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 98,896 | 3.6 | 3.5–3.7 | 166,233 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
| Employment | |||||||||
| Employed (wages) | 41,465 | 1.9 | 1.8–2.0 | 51,567 | 2.9 | 2.8–3.1 | 93,032 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 |
| Self-employed | 7,497 | 2.3 | 2.0–2.5 | 5,354 | 3.0 | 2.7–3.3 | 12,851 | 2.5 | 2.3–2.7 |
| Retired | 12,054 | 3.6 | 2.4–4.9 | 19,880 | 2.4 | 1.5–3.2 | 31,934 | 3.0 | 2.0–4.0 |
| Student | 1,997 | 2.0 | 1.6–2.4 | 3,019 | 3.8 | 3.1–4.5 | 5,016 | 3.3 | 2.7–3.9 |
| Homemaker | 168 | 2.7 | 1.6–3.9 | 11,549 | 3.5 | 3.3–3.8 | 11,717 | 3.5 | 3.3–3.7 |
| Unemp. < 1 yr. | 1,238 | 4.5 | 3.9–5.1 | 2,094 | 6.4 | 5.5–7.3 | 3,332 | 5.7 | 4.9–6.5 |
| Unemp. ≥1 yr. | 766 | 5.3 | 4.4–6.2 | 1,657 | 6.3 | 5.6–7.0 | 2,423 | 6.1 | 5.5–6.7 |
| Unable to work | 2,225 | 9.6 | 8.5–10.6 | 3,878 | 10.7 | 10.0–11.5 | 6,103 | 10.2 | 9.5–10.8 |
| All categories | 67,410 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 98,998 | 3.6 | 3.5–3.7 | 166,408 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
| Income | |||||||||
| <$15,000 | 5,194 | 5.4 | 5.0–5.8 | 13,012 | 6.5 | 6.2–6.8 | 18,206 | 6.1 | 5.8–6.3 |
| $15,000–$24,999 | 10,765 | 3.3 | 3.1–3.4 | 18,662 | 4.5 | 4.3–4.7 | 29,427 | 3.9 | 3.8–4.0 |
| $25,000–$49,999 | 23,046 | 2.2 | 2.1–2.4 | 29,419 | 3.2 | 3.0–3.3 | 52,465 | 2.7 | 2.6–2.8 |
| ≥$50,000 | 20,046 | 1.7 | 1.6–1.8 | 21,382 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.6 | 41,428 | 2.0 | 1.9–2.1 |
| All categories | 59,051 | 2.5 | 2.4–2.6 | 82,475 | 3.6 | 3.5–3.7 | 141,526 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
| Marital status | |||||||||
| Currently married | 38,756 | 2.1 | 1.8–2.3 | 49,671 | 3.0 | 2.8–3.1 | 88,427 | 2.5 | 2.4–2.6 |
| Never married | 14,429 | 3.0 | 2.8–3.2 | 15,847 | 3.6 | 3.3–3.8 | 30,276 | 3.3 | 3.1–3.4 |
| Divorced | 8,060 | 3.6 | 3.1–4.2 | 13,600 | 5.0 | 4.7–5.2 | 21,660 | 4.4 | 4.1–4.8 |
| Unmarried couple | 1,536 | 3.8 | 2.6–5.0 | 2,008 | 4.7 | 3.7–5.6 | 3,544 | 4.5 | 3.6–5.5 |
| Widowed | 2,980 | 4.2 | 3.4–5.0 | 14,562 | 6.6 | 5.5–7.7 | 17,542 | 6.0 | 5.1–6.9 |
| Separated | 1,609 | 5.4 | 4.6–6.1 | 3,164 | 6.3 | 5.7–6.9 | 4,773 | 6.0 | 5.5–6.5 |
| All categories | 67,370 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 98,852 | 3.6 | 3.5–3.6 | 166,222 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
| Participate in any physical activity | |||||||||
| Yes | 36,039 | 2.1 | 2.0–2.2 | 49,472 | 3.1 | 3.0–3.2 | 85,511 | 2.6 | 2.5–2.7 |
| No | 13,388 | 3.1 | 3.0–3.3 | 22,607 | 4.6 | 4.4–4.8 | 35,995 | 3.9 | 3.8–4.1 |
| All categories | 49,427 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 72,079 | 3.6 | 3.5–3.7 | 121,506 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
| Body mass index | |||||||||
| Underweight | 608 | 4.6 | 3.6–5.6 | 3,192 | 4.5 | 4.0–5.0 | 3,800 | 4.5 | 4.1–5.0 |
| Normal | 23,561 | 2.5 | 2.4–2.6 | 47,187 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 | 70,748 | 2.8 | 2.7–2.9 |
| Overweight | 30,305 | 2.1 | 2.0–2.2 | 25,987 | 3.8 | 3.6–3.9 | 56,292 | 2.7 | 2.6–2.8 |
| Obese | 12,295 | 2.8 | 2.6–2.9 | 17,031 | 5.0 | 4.7–5.2 | 29,326 | 3.8 | 3.7–4.0 |
| All categories | 66,769 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 93,397 | 3.6 | 3.5–3.7 | 160,166 | 3.0 | 3.0–3.1 |
| Ever drank ≥ 5 drinks in past 30 days at once | |||||||||
| Yes | 6,403 | 2.6 | 2.4–2.9 | 2,968 | 5.0 | 4.4–5.5 | 9,371 | 3.3 | 2.9–3.6 |
| No | 18,206 | 2.2 | 2.0–2.3 | 29,554 | 3.3 | 3.2–3.4 | 47,760 | 2.8 | 2.7–2.9 |
| All categories | 24,609 | 2.3 | 2.2–2.4 | 32,522 | 3.4 | 3.3–3.5 | 57,131 | 2.8 | 2.7.2.9 |
| Smoking status | |||||||||
| Never smoked | 31,088 | 1.9 | 1.8–2.0 | 57,611 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 | 88,699 | 2.6 | 2.4–2.7 |
| Former smoker | 18,973 | 2.2 | 2.1–2.4 | 19,639 | 3.5 | 3.4–3.7 | 38,612 | 2.9 | 2.8–3.0 |
| Smokes <1 pack/day | 7,112 | 3.1 | 2.8–3.3 | 11,357 | 5.0 | 4.7–5.2 | 18,469 | 4.1 | 3.9–4.3 |
| Smokes ≥1 pack/day | 8,751 | 4.2 | 3.8–4.6 | 8,688 | 6.1 | 5.7–6.4 | 17,439 | 5.0 | 4.7–5.2 |
| All categories | 65,924 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 97,295 | 3.6 | 3.4–3.7 | 163,219 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
| Seatbelt use | |||||||||
| Always | 7,960 | 2.2 | 2.0–2.4 | 13,769 | 3.1 | 2.9–3.2 | 21,729 | 2.7 | 2.6–2.8 |
| Nearly always | 2,142 | 2.0 | 1.7–2.3 | 2,469 | 3.5 | 3.1–3.9 | 4,611 | 2.7 | 2.4–2.9 |
| Sometimes | 1,287 | 2.8 | 2.4–3.3 | 1,291 | 4.4 | 3.8–4.9 | 2,578 | 3.5 | 3.1–3.8 |
| Seldom | 698 | 3.1 | 2.4–3.8 | 578 | 5.5 | 4.5–6.4 | 1,276 | 3.9 | 3.4–4.5 |
| Never | 901 | 4.0 | 3.3–4.7 | 639 | 6.1 | 5.0–7.1 | 1,540 | 4.7 | 4.1–5.3 |
| All categories | 12,988 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 18,746 | 3.4 | 3.2–3.5 | 31,734 | 2.9 | 2.8–3.0 |
| Time when could not afford to get medical care in past year | |||||||||
| Yes | 5,629 | 5.4 | 5.0–5.7 | 11,867 | 6.8 | 6.5–7.1 | 17,496 | 6.2 | 6.0–6.5 |
| No | 61,740 | 2.1 | 2.0–2.2 | 87,069 | 3.1 | 3.0–3.2 | 148,809 | 2.6 | 2.5–2.7 |
| All categories | 67,369 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 98,936 | 3.6 | 3.4–3.7 | 166,305 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
| Have any kind of health plan? | |||||||||
| Yes | 58,645 | 2.2 | 2.1–2.3 | 87,693 | 3.3 | 3.2–3.4 | 146,338 | 2.8 | 2.7–2.9 |
| No | 8,657 | 3.7 | 3.4–4.1 | 11,236 | 5.1 | 4.7–5.4 | 19,893 | 4.4 | 4.1–4.6 |
| All categories | 67,302 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.6 | 98,929 | 3.6 | 3.4–3.7 | 166,231 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
| Self-rated health | |||||||||
| Excellent | 16,485 | 1.4 | 1.3–1.5 | 22,518 | 1.9 | 1.8–2.0 | 39,003 | 1.6 | 1.5–1.7 |
| Very good | 22,980 | 1.7 | 1.6–1.8 | 33,099 | 2.7 | 2.6–2.8 | 56,079 | 2.2 | 2.1–2.3 |
| Good | 18,980 | 2.5 | 2.3–2.6 | 28,081 | 3.9 | 3.7–4.0 | 47,061 | 3.2 | 3.1–3.3 |
| Fair | 6,441 | 4.8 | 4.5–5.1 | 11,041 | 7.2 | 6.8–7.5 | 17,482 | 6.0 | 5.8–6.3 |
| Poor | 2,464 | 11.3 | 10.2–12.4 | 4,154 | 11.2 | 10.3–12.1 | 6,618 | 11.2 | 10.5–12.0 |
| All categories | 67,350 | 2.4 | 2.3–2.5 | 98,893 | 3.6 | 3.4–3.7 | 166,243 | 3.0 | 2.9–3.1 |
Note. *Selected U.S. states, 1995–2000; all variables except age-groups are age-adjusted.