Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics of the completely vegetarian, predominantly vegetarian, non vegetarian total and non vegetarian matched sample

N/% female

54/ 70.4%

190 / 75.3%

3872 / 53.0%

242 / 74.0%

Age (SD)

35.4 (13.6)

39.3 (13.4)

41.9 (13.0)

39.0 (13.3)

Secondary graduation (Abitur), % (N)

37.0% (20)

36.8% (70)

15.9% (617)

32.2% (78)

Community size % (N)

pop. < 20.000

29.6% (16)

31.6% (60)

45.6% (3016)

31.4% (76)

pop. = 20.000-100.000

31.5% (17)

24.7% (47)

25.2% (1664)

25.6% (62)

pop. > 100.000

38.9% (21)

42.7% (83)

29.3% (1936)

43.0% (104)

Living situation: Single; % (N)

51.9% (28)

36.3% (69)

23.1% (893)

40.1% (97)

Married, % (N)

33.0% (18)

46.8% (89)

64.7% (2505)

44.2% (107)

Separated, divorced, widowed, % (N)

14.9% (8)

16.4% (31)

11.6% (453)

15.7% (38)