Table 1: Demographics of meditation practitioners.

Factor Meditation practitioners* Number of responses 343 % Male 39.6 Mean age and age range 44, (SD 13.4), range 18 yrs to 82 yrs % Caucasian 77.2 % Asian 21.9 % Single/never married/divorced/widow 27 % Married/de facto 73 High school, highest level 25.9 Undergraduate, highest level 49.4 Postgraduate, highest level 21.2 No history of mental illness 87.9 History of minor mental illness 10.4 History of major mental illness 1.7

*In comparison, the National Health Survey in 1995 was weighted to population norms with the SF36 administered to only the household members aged 18 years or more. The mean age was 42.6 (SD 16.5) with 48% male.