Religious community, individual religiosity, and health: A tale of two kibbutzim

This article presents an attempt to explore the religiosity-health association while differentiating between the collective, the belonging to a religious community, and the individual aspects of religiosity. The health behaviour, health status, and illness behaviour of a sample of members of a secular kibbutz (n = 125) and a religious kibbutz (n = 105), were studied. The religious kibbutz members reported more health behaviour, better mental and physical health status, and less illness behaviour. Private praying, however, was adversely related to health status and psychological well-being. Other measures of individual religiosity either overlapped community membership or were not related to health and health related behaviour. It seems that the regulative and integrative function of belonging to a religious community makes for a healthier life-style and promotes health status. At times of suffering people turn to religion, in private praying, seeking comfort and help.