The quiet Erosion of Community & The Rise of Deaths of Despair: A Deep Dive into the Link Between Religious Decline and Mortality
For years, the escalating crisis of “deaths of despair” – fatalities stemming from suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol-related liver disease – has gripped communities across the United States.While the opioid epidemic is frequently enough cited as the primary driver, a growing body of research, including a recent study published in the Journal of the European Economic Association, suggests a more complex and deeply rooted cause: the decline of religious participation and, with it, the erosion of vital community structures.
This isn’t simply a matter of faith; it’s a public health issue with profound implications for the future. As an expert in socio-economic factors impacting public health, I’ll break down the key findings of this research, explore the underlying mechanisms at play, and discuss what this means for addressing this critical crisis.
Beyond Opioids: A Trend Taking Shape Decades Ago
The narrative surrounding deaths of despair ofen focuses on the surge in opioid prescriptions beginning in the late 1990s. However, as Tamar Oostrom, co-author of the study and Assistant Professor of Economics at The Ohio State University, emphasizes, “deaths of despair were already beginning to happen when the opioid crisis hit.” This crucial point is supported by data showing a stabilization – and eventual reversal - of the positive mortality trends seen from the late 1970s through the early 1990s. OxyContin’s introduction in 1996 undeniably exacerbated the problem,but it didn’t create it.
This research, conducted with tyler Giles of Wellesley College and Daniel Hungerman of the University of Notre Dame, meticulously analyzes decades of data, combining General Social Survey details on religious involvement with mortality records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The results paint a stark picture: a significant correlation between declining religious participation and rising mortality rates, especially within a specific demographic.
the Demographic at Risk: White, Middle-Aged americans Without a College Degree
The study pinpointed a concentrated decline in religious attendance among white, middle-aged adults lacking a college degree. This is precisely the group that has experienced the most dramatic increases in deaths of despair.Importantly, this relationship wasn’t limited by geography; it was observed consistently across both rural and urban areas and affected men and women equally.
This isn’t a coincidence. The researchers employed a clever methodology to strengthen their conclusions: examining the impact of “blue law” repeals.
Blue Laws as a Natural Experiment: Uncovering Causation
“Blue laws” historically restricted businesses from operating on Sundays, effectively creating a space for religious observance and community gathering. The researchers focused on states - Minnesota, South Carolina, and Texas – that repealed these laws in 1985. By comparing outcomes in these states to those that maintained their blue laws, they were able to isolate the affect of reduced competition for time and attention.
The results were compelling. Repealing blue laws led to a 5- to 10-percentage-point drop in weekly religious service attendance. And, crucially, these same states subsequently experienced higher rates of deaths of despair. This provides strong evidence suggesting a causal link between reduced religious participation and increased mortality.
Why Does churchgoing Matter? Beyond Social Connection
The question remains: how does attending religious services contribute to better health outcomes? While social connection is undoubtedly a factor – and a well-established predictor of both physical and mental wellbeing – the study suggests it’s not the whole story. The researchers observed that declines in church attendance weren’t mirrored by similar declines in other forms of social activity.
Oostrom posits that religion offers something unique: “Religion may provide some way of making sense of the world, some sense of identity in relation to others, that can’t easily be replaced by other forms of socialization.” It’s not simply about being with others; it’s about shared values, a sense of purpose, and a framework for navigating life’s challenges. The study also found that it wasn’t a decline in belief itself, but rather a decrease in participation – in actively identifying as religious and regularly attending services - that correlated with increased mortality.
The Challenge of Reversing the Trend & The Role of Community
The implications of this research are sobering.while the findings raise the possibility that reinvigorating religious organizations or secular community groups could help mitigate rising mortality rates, the authors are cautious. Existing evidence, they note, is largely pessimistic.
Furthermore, broader declines in community participation show no signs of reversing. The rise of social media, while offering a different form of connection, doesn’t appear to be filling the void left
