Posted by:
I_am_me
(
)
Date: September 30, 2014 12:44PM
I found the first study linked to. Here is a link to the abstract:
http://hsb.sagepub.com/content/51/3/325.shortI found the full article through my college's library database.
It was quite an interesting read. It talked about how people in high-cost religions (LDS & JW) self report better health than those of other denominations, and how people switching from these high-cost religions report the worst health overall.
Reasons explored: tight-knit community, community support, proscription of high risk behaviors. Mainly it boiled down to reduced stress, shared belief system, and healthy habits.
The study emphasized that more studies should be done, because correlation does not imply causation.
Possibilities for reasoning include: There is a high cost to leaving, so very stressful. Many who leave, become unaffiliated with a religious group (no shared worldview, no answers to "life questions"). Illness prevents full participation, so those already in poor health tend to leave. Those who leave may have poor impulse control, leading to high risk health behavior.
If you are able to read the full text, I encourage you to do so. It is not boring (though it seems repetitive), and is easy to read.