Religious Identity and Health Inequalities in Canada

Original Paper
First Online:

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Self-rated physical health Self-rated mental health Religiosity Secularity 
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Notes

Funding

This study was not funded.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals, performed by any of the authors. The study underwent a preliminary review by the Research Ethics Board and received an exemption.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Economics, Sobey School of BusinessSaint Mary’s UniversityHalifaxCanada

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