DOES RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE PROMOTE HEALTH - MORTALITY IN SECULAR VS RELIGIOUS KIBBUTZIM IN ISRAEL

Objectives. This study assessed the association of Jewish religious ob servance with mortality by comparing religious and secular kibbutzim. These collectives are highly similar in social structure and economic function and are cohesive and supportive communities. Methods. In a 16 -year (1970 through 1985) historical prospective study of mortality in 11 religious and 11 matched secular kibbutzim in Israel, 268 deaths o ccurred among 3900 men and women 35 years of age and older during 41 3 47 person-years of observation. Results. Mortality was considerably hi gher in secular kibbutzim. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to adjust for age and the matched design; rate ratios were 1.67 (95% c onfidence interval [CI] = 1.17, 2.39) for men, 2.67 (95% CI = 1.55, 4. 60) for women, and 1.93 (95% CI = 1.44, 2.59) overall. Kaplan-Meier su rvival analysis of birth cohorts confirmed the association. The lower mortality in religious kibbutzim was consistent for all major causes o f death. Conclusions. Belonging to a religious collective was associat ed with a strong protective effect not attributable to confounding by sociodemographic factors. Elucidation of mechanisms mediating this eff ect may provide etiologic insights and leads for intervention.