Table 1.
Baseline characteristics and scores on key variables for wives and husbands
| Characteristic | Wives M (SD) | Husbands M (SD) |
| Age, in years | 56.91 (5.93) | 60.48 (5.28) |
| Education, in years | 12.84 (2.86) | 13.04 (3.24) |
| No. of chronic health conditions | 1.08 (1.01) | 1.19 (1.00) |
| No. of living children | 3.40 (1.90) | 3.40 (1.90) |
| No. of drinks per occasion | 0.66 (1.10) | 1.32 (1.66) |
| No. of drinks per week | 1.97 (4.51) | 4.59 (7.69) |
| Proportions | ||
| Race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White) | .91 | .90 |
| Employment status (works for pay) | .56 | .69 |
| Marital order (first marriage) | .76 | .73 |
| Prescription drug use | .71 | .51 |
| Lifetime history of alcohol problems | .05 | .15 |
| Total household income | ||
| ≤$24,999 | .14 | |
| $25,000–$49,999 | .30 | |
| $50,000–$74,999 | .24 | |
| $75,000–$99,999 | .12 | |
| ≥$100,000 | .21 | |
Notes: N = 1,257 married couples. No. = number.