Table 2

Demographic and outcome variables at baseline of sample stratified by treatment (n=460)

Demographic variablesTreatment (n=232)Control (n=228)Total (n=460)p Value* (two-sided)
Sex, n (%)
 Male70 (30.2)87 (38.2)157 (34.1)0.07
 Female162 (69.8)141 (61.8)303 (65.9)
Age (years)74.81 (7.8)74.90 (7.6)74.85 (7.7)0.90
 60–64, n (%)24 (10.3)23 (10.1)47 (10.2)0.50
 65–69, n (%)40 (17.2)39 (17.1)79 (17.2)
 70–74, n (%)50 (21.6)44 (19.3)94 (20.4)
 75–79, n (%)45 (19.4)59 (25.9)104 (22.6)
 80–85, n (%)51 (22.0)38 (16.7)89 (19.4)
 85+, n (%)22 (9.5)25 (11.0)47 (10.2)
Race, n (%)
 White85 (36.6)87 (38.2)172 (37.4)0.44
 Black/African American78 (33.6)71 (31.1)149 (32.4)
 Hispanic or Latino49 (21.1)43 (18.9)92 (20.0)
 Asian10 (4.3)8 (3.5)18 (3.9)
 Other10 (4.3)19 (8.3)29 (6.3)
Education, n (%)
 Less than high school72 (31.0)64 (28.1)136 (29.6)0.91
 High school graduate45 (19.4)44 (19.3)89 (19.4)
 Some college or technical school77 (33.2)81 (35.5)158 (34.4)
 Four years of college or more38 (16.4)39 (17.1)77 (16.7)
Annual income, n (%)
 $0∼$11 999123 (53.7)117 (53.2)240 (53.5)0.77
 $12 000–$23 99951 (22.3)56 (25.5)107 (23.8)
 $24 000–$35 99925 (10.9)24 (10.9)49 (10.9)
 $36 000+30 (13.1)23 (10.4)53 (11.8)
Income support§, n (%)
 One person194 (84.4)178 (80.2)372 (82.3)0.25
 More than one person36 (15.6)44 (19.8)80 (17.7)
Retirement status, n (%)
 Retired/active (student or volunteer)59 (25.4)52 (22.8)111 (24.1)0.51
 Retired/inactive173 (74.6)176 (77.2)349 (75.9)
Living situation, n (%)
 Alone193 (83.2)184 (80.7)377 (82.0)0.49
 Lives with others39 (16.8)44 (19.3)83 (18.0)
Site type, n (%)
 Graduated care retirement community17 (7.3)16 (7.0)33 (7.2)0.97
 Senior residence-subsidised107 (46.1)101 (44.3)208 (45.2)
 Senior centre: multipurpose71 (30.6)74 (32.5)145 (31.5)
 Senior centre: parks and recreation37 (16.0)37 (16.2)74 (16.1)
Neighbourhood score
 Neighbourhood score (1–7)4.6 (1.4)4.6 (1.4)4.6 (1.4)0.93
Outcome variables
SF-36 V. 2
 Bodily pain43.24 (11.48)44.47 (11.56)43.85 (11.52)0.25
 Physical function38.65 (11.98)38.38 (12.33)38.51 (12.14)0.81
 Role physical40.47 (11.60)41.60 (10.07)41.03 (10.87)0.26
 General health44.66 (10.15)44.88 (10.46)44.77 (10.29)0.82
 Mental health47.35 (11.79)47.59 (11.32)47.47 (11.54)0.83
 Role emotional39.04 (14.04)40.76 (12.39)39.89 (13.26)0.17
 Social functioning44.23 (11.71)45.82 (10.61)45.02 (11.19)0.13
 Vitality49.86 (9.82)50.14 (9.75)50.00 (9.78)0.76
 Physical composite41.09 (10.06)41.43 (10.60)41.26 (10.32)0.72
 Mental composite46.90 (11.74)48.05 (10.81)47.47 (11.29)0.27
Life satisfaction-Z
 16.94 (5.56)16.76 (5.72)16.85 (5.64)0.73
CES-D Scale
 14.32 (10.89)13.13 (10.91)13.73 (10.91)0.24
CERAD-memory
 Immediate recall4.07 (1.71)4.09 (1.48)4.08 (1.60)0.87
 Delayed recall5.02 (2.22)4.78 (2.23)4.90 (2.23)0.25
 Recognition18.57 (2.30)18.27 (2.22)18.42 (2.26)0.16
Visual search
 Median reaction time1413.59 (647.40)1355.41 (596.80)1385 (623.40)0.34
Psychomotor speed
 38.85 (16.36)38.79 (17.08)38.82 (16.70)0.97
  • Age is calculated from date of birth and baseline evaluation date; in the category race, ‘Other’ includes Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, Multiracial, other and refused.

  • * χ2 tests were performed for categorical variables, and Student t tests were performed for continuous variables.

  • Mean (SD).

  • Income: 11 refused (3 in the treatment group and 8 in the control group).

  • § Income support: 8 refused (2 in the treatment group and 6 in the control group).

  • Based on project managers' ratings of the overall quality of the neighbourhood in which the site was located.

  • CES-D Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; CERAD, Consortium to Establish a Registry of Alzheimer's Disease; SF-36 V. 2, Version 2 of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey.