Religion, Policy Change, and Older-Age Mortality in 19th and 20th Century Utah

Jason P Bonham, University of Chicago
Ken R. Smith, University of Utah
Tim Bruckner, University of California, Irvine

Birth, reproduction, and death are of primary interest to both public health and religion. Both institutions maintain beliefs and practices surrounding these events meant to shape personal behavior that in turn influence demographic dynamics. We examine how mortality outcomes respond to a sudden change in religious policies related to tobacco use. Using the Utah Population Database, we compare life expectancy and tobacco-related health outcomes to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ (LDS) smoking policy change in 1921 among Utah’s 1880 to 1920 birth cohorts. Active LDS males and females who are born after 1900 exhibit an increase in life expectancy (Females = 3.644 years, Males = 5.177 years; P < .0001) compared to their inactive counterparts. Additionally, less-active LDS males and females born after 1900 (and exposed to the policy change before adulthood) manifest a dramatic increased Hazard Risk Ratio (HRR) in tobacco related death (Female HRR= 3.046, Male HRR= 3.865) compared to their LDS active peers. Similar differences do not exist in pre-1900 cohorts nor do the tobacco-related findings replicate in non-tobacco related cancers. These results suggest that in early 20th century Utah, abrupt changes in behavioral norms dictated by religious policy may have reduced mortality.

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 Presented in Session 125. Research Methods in the Study of Religion