1. TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN THE OLD ORDER MENNONITES
Kathryn Fisher
School of Geography & Earth Sciences
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
fisheka@mcmaster.ca
K. Bruce Newbold
School of Geography & Earth Sciences
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a survey exploring the social (non-genetic) determinants of
health (SDOH) in two adult farming groups in rural Waterloo, Ontario: Old Order Mennonites
(OOMs) and non-OOM farmers. The study addresses two questions: do the two groups differ in
their general health status, and do the SDOH explain the differences (or similarities)? We
hypothesize that OOMs may have lower levels of illness due to strong community and family
ties, healthy behaviours (e.g., no smoking) and high levels of religiosity. Comparing the two
Waterloo groups reduces the number of factors responsible for health differences, focusing on
lifestyle and cultural differences reflected in the SDOH. A survey was employed to obtain data
on chronic illness and health determinants, with 1,171 and 344 completed surveys received
from the OOMs and non-OOMs respectively. We examined physical and mental health status
measured using the SF-12, and assessed the relative importance of the SDOH in explaining
health in the two groups. Mean physical health was the same in the two groups, although a
closer look at age and gender differences shows lower physical health in women and
increasingly older age cohorts in the OOMs. Mean mental health was found to be better in the
OOMs. Regression results suggest that the SDOH influencing physical and mental health differ,
and depend on the population and the specific SDOH measures used. The significance of the
findings is discussed in terms of policy relevance and strengthening the evidence base linking
the SDOH to general health status.