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Drowning your sorrows? Attitudes towards alcohol in UK Jews and Protestants: a thematic analysis

Author(s): Loewenthal, Kate Miriam; Lee, Michelle; MacLeod, Andrew K.; Cook, Susan; Goldblatt, Vivienne

Date: 2003

Topics: Main Topic: Other, Mental Health, Surveys, Religious Belief, Comparisons with other communities, Interviews

Abstract: Background: Jewish culturally supported beliefs may discourage drinking and drunkenness as ways of socialising and coping with stress. Thus Jewish men under stress may be relatively more likely to become depressed, and less likely to use and abuse alcohol. This study is the first qualitative comparison of Jews and Protestants, men and women. It examines whether alcohol-related beliefs are consistent with the alcohol-depression hypothesis, i.e. that positive beliefs about alcohol use and effects are associated with high alcohol use and low depression. Material and discussion: A thematic (interpretive phenomenological) analysis on open-ended question responses, from 70 Jews and 91 Protestants, and on semi-structured interviews with five Jews and four Protestants, identified three salient themes: the importance of retaining self-control; the pleasures of losing inhibitions; and the relations of alcohol-related behaviour to identity. Compared to Protestants, Jews described alcohol-related behaviour as threatening to self-control, loss of inhibition as unenjoyable and dangerous and distinguished between the kinds of drinking behaviours appropriate for Jews and others. Sub-themes for Protestant men were denial that drinking threatens self-control, and appropriateness of going to the pub. Conclusions: The themes identified are not measurable using published research instruments. Alcohol-related behaviour may be a feature of Jewish identity. The beliefs identified are consistent with the alcohol-depression hypothesis.

Beliefs about alcohol among UK Jews and Protestants: Do they fit the alcohol-depression hypothesis?

Author(s): Loewenthal, Kate Miriam; MacLeod, Andrew K.; Cook, Susan; Lee, Michelle

Date: 2003

Topics: Main Topic: Other, Mental Health, Surveys, Religious Belief, Comparisons with other communities

Abstract: Background: Some research has suggested that Jews drink less alcohol than other cultural groups, and may have different beliefs about its use. Differences in beliefs about alcohol, and different patterns of use, may play a role in accounting for cultural and gender variations in depression prevalence. Alcohol may act as an escape route from depression, thus deflating depression rates in certain groups of people, in particular, men from Protestant backgrounds. Methods: Self-reported use and beliefs about alcohol were assessed in a UK sample of 70 Jews and 91 Protestants, including non-practising people of Jewish and Protestant background. The effects of religious group and of gender on measures of alcohol behaviour and beliefs were examined. Results: Some differences were found between Jews and Protestants. Jews had less favourable beliefs about alcohol and drank less than Protestants. More importantly, and in line with our hypotheses, there were gender differences in Protestants but not Jews with respect to some beliefs about alcohol and actual use of alcohol. Conclusions: The study goes some way in supporting the notion that religious-cultural and gender differences in beliefs and behaviour towards alcohol may contribute to religious-cultural and gender differences in rates of depression.

The suicide beliefs of Jews and Protestants in the UK: How do they differ?

Author(s): Loewenthal, Kate Miriam; MacLeod, Andrew K.; Cook, Susan; Lee, Michelle

Date: 2003

Topics: Main Topic: Other, Mental Health, Surveys, Religious Belief, Comparisons with other communities

Abstract: It has been suggested that Protestant culture has become more tolerant towards suicide in the previous century, while Jewish culture has traditionally not condoned suicide. There have been reports that suicide rates are somewhat lower among Jews than among people of Protestant background. We asked whether there were differences between Jews’ and Protestants’ beliefs about suicide that might relate to these suggestions and reports. Beliefs about suicide were assessed from the Reasons For Living Inventory (RFL), and with questions about the acceptability of suicide in some circumstances. Self-reported suicide ideation and attempts were also assessed. Some religious-cultural differences were found in beliefs about suicide, but not with regard to ideation and behaviour. We discussed the relations between differences in belief, and reported differences in suicide prevalence, and suggested that most of the belief differences were consistent with reported patterns of prevalence. Notably, Jews believed more strongly than Protestants that moral-religious objections to suicide were reasons for living, and that suicide was less acceptable in certain circumstances.

Comfort and joy? Religion, cognition, and mood in Protestants and Jews under stress

Author(s): Loewenthal, Kate Miriam; MacLeod, Andrew K.; Goldblatt, Vivienne; Lubitsch, Guy; Valentine, John D.

Date: 2000

Topics: Comparisons with other communities, Main Topic: Other, Mental Health, Religious Observance and Practice, Religious Belief

Abstract: This study examined cognitive aspects of coping with stress, how these related to religiosity, and how they related to outcomes (positive mood and distress). Participants (n=126) were of Protestant or Jewish background, and had all experienced recent major stress. They were assessed on measures of religiosity, religious coping, perception of the consequences of the stressful event, attributions for its occurrence, and distress, intrusive unpleasant thoughts, and positive affect. Religiosity affected ways of thinking about the stressful situation, namely: Belief that G-d is enabling the individual to bear their troubles (religious/spiritual support), belief that it was all for the best, and (more weakly) belief that all is ultimately controlled by G-d. Religiosity affected neither the proportion of positive consequences perceived as outcomes of the event, nor the causal attributions examined. Religious background (Protestant vs. Jewish) had negligible effects on the cognitions measures. Causal pathway analysis suggested that religion-related cognitions might directly affect positive affect, but not distress. Problems of design and interpretation are discussed. The study suggests some cognitively mediated means by which religion may have comforting effects.

Are women more religious than men? Gender differences in religious activity among different religious groups in the UK

Author(s): Loewenthal, Kate Miriam; MacLeod, Andrew K.; Cinnirella, Marco

Date: 2002

Topics: Main Topic: Other, Religious Observance and Practice, Religious Belief, Jewish Women, Gender, Comparisons with other communities

Abstract: Are women more religious than men? Four religious-cultural groups in the UK were examined, using a short measure of religious activity developed to enable measurement comparable between different religious groups. Gender differences were examined among volunteers who were self-defined as Christian (n=230), Hindu (n=56), Jewish (n=157) and Muslim (n=87). Women (n=302) described themselves as significantly less religiously active than did men (n=226), but this effect was confined to the non-Christian groups. It is suggested that the general conclusion that women are more religious than men is culture-specific, and contingent on the measurement method used.

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