We used to say “Zei gezunt!” (Be well!): Do American Jews still exhibit distinctive health behaviors?

ABSTRACT

A survey that includes a representative sample (n = 3,219) of older persons (age 60+) living in the Philadelphia area was used to determine if health status and health behaviors of older Jews differ from that of non-Jews. The survey includes questions about health status and health behaviors as well as sociodemographic characteristics. Responses of self-identified Jews, Catholics, and Protestants were compared. With only two exceptions there were no differences between Jews and non-Jews on questions about health status. In regard to health behaviors, Jews were more likely to follow standard recommendations such as seeing their physician on a regular basis or yearly screenings for certain cancers. We completed stepwise regressions with measures of socioeconomic status entered first and then Jewish status, as socioeconomic status is closely associated with health outcomes. Being Jewish continued to explain differences in health behaviors even when controlling for socioeconomic status. We also looked at the relation between attending religious services and health behaviors. Self-rated health was correlated with attendance for Protestants and for Catholics; it was not correlated with self-rated health for the Jews. All findings suggest the need for further study of the reason for the relation of health behavior to being Jewish.

KEYWORDS:

• Comparative religion
• health behaviors
• Jews