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PRAYING page 63
The
RNS/RI CHAR D NOWITZ
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A kibbutznik uses a combine to harvest wheat.
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The study looked at the mor-
tality records at the kibbutzim
from Jan. 1, 1970, to Dec. 31,
1985. In adults 35 and over, 268
deaths occured — 69 on the reli-
gious kibbutzim, 199 on the sec-
ular. The kibbutzim were paired
based on their locations, use of the
same hospital, similar number of
members over age 40 and dates
of establishment. This was done
to eliminate factors that might ad-
versely affect the outcome, such
as one kibbutz receiving a lower
quality of medical care in their lo-
cal hospital.
The members of the kibbutzim
tended to be of European origin
and the educational level was al-
most identical between the two
communities.
Occupation and the standard
of living were similar and the eco-
nomic structures were identical.
"Hence, social class difference,
an important determinant of
health, cannot explain the find-
ings," Dr. Kark said.
The causes of death among the
members of both kibbutzim were
similar and typical of a developed
country — heart disease, stroke,
cancer, accidents and suicides ac-
counted for 83 percent of the
deaths. The lower death rate
among the religious kibbutzim
was consistent among all the caus-
es of death and even superseded
the longer life span usually en-
joyed by women. Secular women
did not live longer than religious
men.
In 1991, Dr. Kark and his fel-
low researchers looked at some
conventional risk factors linked
to poor health. Cholesterol levels
were higher among the secular
men and women, while the reli-
gious men and women had high-
er rates of diabetes. Smoking was
more common among the secular
population and the intake of sat-
urated fatty acids and total fat
was a little lower among the re-
ligious men and women.
The difference of fat intake was
attributed to the laws of kashrut
prohibiting the mixing of milk and
meat products.
Dr. Mervyn Susser, editor of
I
the American Journal of Public
Health, called Dr. Kark's study "a
well-designed piece of work" that
helps re-examine an issue that
has long intrigued both clergy and
the medical world.
"The study gives a fairly dis-
tinctive illustration of the fact that
many beliefs and the life that fol-
lows can have an effect on one's
health," said Dr. Susser, who is a
professor emeritus of epidemiolo-
gy and a special lecturer at Co-
lumbia University.
The authors of the study hy-
pothesize that a coherent world
view, a relaxation response in-
duced by frequent prayer, repeti-
tive ritualistic behavior ("and
strict observance of Sabbath and
41 1
festivals dedicated to rest and
prayer"), highly stable marriages
(the divorce rate was 11 times
higher on the secular kibbutzim
than on the religious) and a strong
sense of well-being among the re-
ligious kibbutzim (there were five
suicides on the secular kibbutz-
im, versus one on the religious)
might contribute to their longer
life span.
While the unusual make-up of
a kibbutz lends itself well to Dr. AI
Kark's research; the question still
remains if his findings can be ap-
plied to other segments of the Jew-
ish population. Earlier studies
have found a lower rate of coro-
nary disease among Orthodox
Jews, but he and his co-authors
said those results may have been
affected by other factors such as
social class, ethnic group and
availablity of medical services.
"The basic question is, if these
findings are replicated in other
settings, then what are the caus-
es of- the protective effect?" he
asked.
Dr. Kark and his colleagues are
continuing to work with the kib-
butzim to try to unlock the mys-
tery of why religious observance
seems to promote health.
"It would be nice to get a han- 41
dle on it," he said. ❑