Dilmaghani Maryam
Department of Economics, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3C3, Canada.
J Immigr Minor Health. 2018 Oct;20(5):1060-1074. doi: 10.1007/s10903-017-0640-2.
In the past few decades, most new immigrants to Canada have originated from non-Christian countries. During the same period, the unaffiliation rates have sharply increased in Canada. This paper investigates whether there are any health inequalities associated with religious identity, including also the individuals who do not identify with organized religion in the analysis. The study uses the Canadian General Social Survey of 2012 (N = 23,093), focused on Caregiving and Care-receiving. Employing multivariate regression analysis and controlling for a large set of characteristics inclusive of the degree of religious commitment, individuals who identify as Protestant are found at a physical and mental health advantage, compared with Roman Catholics and most other groups. On the other hand, individuals who identify as Jehovah's Witnesses are found at a considerable physical health disadvantage. Among the unaffiliated individuals, those who have retained some ties with organized religion without formally identifying with it are found at a mental health disadvantage compared with all religious groups, as well as the secular individuals who are strictly committed to their nonreligious views. Possible causes and various implications are discussed.
在过去几十年里，大多数加拿大的新移民都来自非基督教国家。在同一时期，加拿大无宗教信仰率急剧上升。本文调查是否存在与宗教身份相关的健康不平等现象，分析中还包括那些不认同有组织宗教的个人。该研究使用了2012年加拿大综合社会调查（N = 23,093），重点关注照料与被照料情况。通过多元回归分析并控制包括宗教虔诚程度在内的大量特征后发现，与罗马天主教徒和大多数其他群体相比，认同新教的个体在身心健康方面具有优势。另一方面，认同耶和华见证人的个体在身体健康方面处于相当大的劣势。在无宗教信仰的个体中，那些与有组织宗教保持一定联系但未正式认同的人，与所有宗教群体以及坚定秉持非宗教观点的世俗个体相比，在心理健康方面处于劣势。文中讨论了可能的原因及各种影响。
