7 ms·

Strong, socially-enforced taboos against alcohol and tobacco consumption are probably a major driver of the longevity difference.

ekanes 3y ago
And a small community of actual friends. Friendship matters re longevity. It's worth working towards.
- 16mb 3y ago
  I assume it’s a bit more likely to do with the lack of junk foods and increased physical activity.
  - rayiner 3y ago
    Yeah but everyone knows you shouldn’t eat junk food and should exercise more. And last I checked Utah is subject to the same consumer advertising, fast food chains, and processed food brands as everywhere else.
  - kelseyfrog 3y ago
    I assume that the benefactors of a patriarchy do rather well. It naturally confers many advantages that translate into longer lifespan.
    - rayiner 3y ago
      Mormon women also live much longer than other white American women. Mormon women live longer than Swedish women.
coryfklein 3y ago
Having been raised Mormon and participating in the church and culture until my mid-20's, there are sooo many aspects of the religion that affect life across so many dimensions. I'm sure abstinence from drugs is benificial, but probably only account for a fraction of the effect. Other things I'd consider: * Longevity is associated with community, something the church is very good at * Even elderly individuals are required to perform "a calling", giving them meaning and purpose later in life * Mormons have a lot of children, and so when you're older you usually have a very strong social safety net * Mormons have lower divorce rates, and divorce is correlated with greater mortality As an agnostic and raising kids, I spend a lot of time now pondering how – if at all – to pass on as many of these benefits of Mormonism to my kids without mandating the magical beliefs, and I have to say it's difficult. But I think you do have to have some healthy middle-ground mix of conservatism and collectivisms just to strike a healthy balance with modern individualism and liberalism.
- lazide 3y ago
  The magical beliefs are in many ways the cement.

ekanes 3y ago

And a small community of actual friends. Friendship matters re longevity. It's worth working towards.

16mb 3y ago
I assume it’s a bit more likely to do with the lack of junk foods and increased physical activity.
- rayiner 3y ago
  Yeah but everyone knows you shouldn’t eat junk food and should exercise more. And last I checked Utah is subject to the same consumer advertising, fast food chains, and processed food brands as everywhere else.
- kelseyfrog 3y ago
  I assume that the benefactors of a patriarchy do rather well. It naturally confers many advantages that translate into longer lifespan.
  - rayiner 3y ago
    Mormon women also live much longer than other white American women. Mormon women live longer than Swedish women.

coryfklein 3y ago

Having been raised Mormon and participating in the church and culture until my mid-20's, there are sooo many aspects of the religion that affect life across so many dimensions. I'm sure abstinence from drugs is benificial, but probably only account for a fraction of the effect. Other things I'd consider: * Longevity is associated with community, something the church is very good at * Even elderly individuals are required to perform "a calling", giving them meaning and purpose later in life * Mormons have a lot of children, and so when you're older you usually have a very strong social safety net * Mormons have lower divorce rates, and divorce is correlated with greater mortality As an agnostic and raising kids, I spend a lot of time now pondering how – if at all – to pass on as many of these benefits of Mormonism to my kids without mandating the magical beliefs, and I have to say it's difficult. But I think you do have to have some healthy middle-ground mix of conservatism and collectivisms just to strike a healthy balance with modern individualism and liberalism.

lazide 3y ago
The magical beliefs are in many ways the cement.