Table 2 Baseline characteristics of the study sample (n = 179)

 • Age (years)

mean (SD)

70.3 (6.2)

68.4 (5.6)

t = 2.1, df = 177, p = .038

 • Female sex

n (%)

35 (46.1)

59 (57.3)

Chi² = 2.2, df = 1, p = .137

  - Lower

n (%)

27 (35.5)

38 (36.9)

  - Medium

n (%)

29 (38.2)

32 (31.1)

Chi² = 1.2, df = 2, p = .562

  - Higher

n (%)

20 (26.3)

33 (32.0)

 • Number of chronic diseases

mean (SD)

2.0 (1.5)

2.0 (1.4)

t = 0.2, df = 177, p = .854

 • Cognitive performance (MoCA)

mean (SD)

28.5 (1.2)

28.7 (1.4)

t = −1.2, d = 174, p = .220

 • Depressive symptom severity (IDS)

mean (SD)

30.6 (11.9)

37.1 (10.9)

t = −3.8, df = 177, p < .001

 • Anxiety symptoms (GAI)

mean (SD)

10.3 (4.8)

13.0 (4.8)

t = −3.6, df = 175, p < .001

 • Hypochondriasis (WI)

mean (SD)

4.7 (3.0)

5.3 (2.9)

t = −1.4, df = 176, p = .171

 • Any depressive disorder^b

n (%)

58 (76.3)

80 (77.7)

Chi² < 0.1, df = 1, p = .831

 • Any anxiety disorder^b

n (%)

38 (50.0)

52 (50.5)

Chi² < 0.1, df = 1, p = .949

 • Any somatic symptom disorder^b

n (%)

25 (32.9)

32 (31.1)

Chi² = 0.1, df = 1, p = .795

 • Antidepressant drug use

n (%)

48 (67.6)

58 (60.4)

Chi² = 0.9, df = 1, p = .340

 • Benzodiazepine use

n (%)

23 (32.4)

30 (31.3)

Chi² = 0.0, df = 1, p = .875

  ° Never

n (%)

20 (26.3)

26 (25.2)

  ° Formerly

n (%)

37 (48.7)

53 (51.5)

Chi² = 0.1, df = 2, p = .933

  ° Currently

n (%)

19 (25.0)

24 (23.3)

  ° Abstinent

n (%)

29 (28.2)

30 (29.1)

  ° Recreational use

n (%)

35 (46.1)

56 (54.4)

Chi² = 1.7, df = 2, p = .429

  ° Problematic use

n (%)

12 (15.8)

17 (16.5)

 • Sufficient physical activity

n (%)

56 (75.7)

72 (70.6)

Chi² = 0.6, df = 1, p = .454