Table 1.
Characteristics of Adults aged 50 Years or Older Health Retirement Study, 2006- 2008
| Variable | N | Weighted % |
|---|---|---|
| All | 5,268 | 100.0 |
| Sex | ||
| Female | 3,076 | 56.0 |
| Male | 2,192 | 44.0 |
| Age | ||
| 50 - 64 years | 886 | 13.4 |
| 65-69 years | 1,605 | 47.6 |
| 70-79 years | 1,026 | 15.8 |
| 80 years or older | 1,751 | 23.1 |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| Non-Hispanic White | 3,985 | 80.8 |
| African American | 675 | 8.7 |
| Hispanic/Latino | 496 | 8.1 |
| Other | 112 | 2.4 |
| Marital Status | ||
| Married | 3,228 | 63.5 |
| Divorced/separated/widowed | 1,892 | 33.1 |
| single | 148 | 3.4 |
| Education | ||
| Less than High school | 1,213 | 19.1 |
| High school | 1,768 | 32.3 |
| Some College | 1,110 | 22.8 |
| College degree | 1,173 | 25.7 |
| Income | ||
| Poor | 456 | 8.2 |
| Low income | 969 | 16.2 |
| Mod income | 1,699 | 29.7 |
| High income | 2,144 | 45.9 |
| Employment Status | ||
| Employed | 1,510 | 36.9 |
| Not employed | 3,755 | 63.0 |
| Medicare Enrollment | ||
| Yes | 3,714 | 55.1 |
| No | 1,545 | 44.8 |
| Private Insurance | ||
| Yes | 3,109 | 64.8 |
| No | 2,143 | 35.0 |
| Childhood Health** | ||
| Excellent | 1,942 | 35.7 |
| Very Good | 1,143 | 20.2 |
| Good | 660 | 11.7 |
| Fair | 185 | 3.1 |
| Poor | 64 | 1.0 |
| Pain | ||
| None | 3,463 | 64.7 |
| Mild | 552 | 11.1 |
| Moderate | 948 | 18.7 |
| Severe | 298 | 5.5 |
| General health | ||
| Excellent | 504 | 10.5 |
| Very Good | 1,544 | 30.9 |
| Good | 1,711 | 31.8 |
| Fair | 1,094 | 19.2 |
| Poor | 413 | 7.6 |
| Arthritis | ||
| Yes | 3,539 | 63.4 |
| No | 1,727 | 36.6 |
| Cancer | ||
| Cancer | 34 | 0.5 |
| No Cancer | 5,234 | 99.5 |
| Diabetes | ||
| Yes | 1,210 | 21.4 |
| No | 4,058 | 78.6 |
| Cardiovascular Disease | ||
| Yes | 1,540 | 26.5 |
| No | 3,727 | 73.5 |
| Hypertension | ||
| Yes | 3,319 | 59.1 |
| No | 1,944 | 40.8 |
| Depression | ||
| CES-D >= 3 | 1,066 | 20.3 |
| CES-D < 3 | 4,202 | 79.7 |
| BMI | ||
| Normal or Underweight | 1,241 | 22.6 |
| Overweight | 1,872 | 35.7 |
| Obese | 2,131 | 41.2 |
| Smoking Status | ||
| Current smoker | 657 | 13.9 |
| Non-smoker | 2,327 | 43.2 |
| Physical activity | ||
| >= twice/week | 3,001 | 59.0 |
| < twice/week | 2,267 | 41.0 |
Note: Based on 5,268 respondents 50 years and older, living in the United States, alive and with complete TL data in 2008, and with complete sleep data in 2006. Depression measured with Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale scores (Yes CESD >= 3, and “No” CES-D <3) BMI = Body Mass Index. Percentages weighted using weights supplied in the HRS dataset to account for the multistage area probability design.
**
Percentage not equal to 100% some respondents did not answer this question.