The director of Baylor ISR’s Program on Religion and Population Health (PRPH), Dr. Jeff Levin, has a strong professional interest in the contribution of Jewish religious belief and observance to personal and population health. This is an important focus of work for PRPH, and is principally engaged through ongoing global research on patterns and predictors of physical and mental health and general well-being: Through use of numerous national and international data sources, such as the Gallup World Poll and other population-based surveys, an ongoing series of analyses is documenting the health and well-being of Jews in the U.S., in Israel, and in the non-U.S. diaspora. This research has been instrumental in constructing a health profile of the world’s Jewish population, as well as in extending Dr. Levin’s longstanding research on religious influences on physical and mental health to Judaism and the Jewish people.
Peer Reviewed Publications
- Levin, Jeff. (2015). Religious Differences in Self-Rated Health Among US Jews: Findings from Five Urban Population Surveys. Journal of Religion and Health; online.
- Levin, Jeff. (2014). Religion and Happiness Among Israeli Jews: Findings from the ISSP Religion III Survey. Journal of Happiness Studies 15:593-611.
- Levin, Jeff. (2013). Religious Observance and Well-Being among Israeli Jewish Adults: Findings from the Israel Social Survey. Religions 4:469-484.
- Levin, Jeff. (2013). Religious Behavior, Health, and Well-Being Among Israeli Jews: Findings From the European Social Survey. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality 5:272-282.
- Levin, Jeff. (2013). Religion and Mental Health Among Israeli Jews: Findings from the SHARE-Israel Study. Social Indicators Research 113:769-784.
- Levin, Jeff. (2012). Religion and Physical Health among Older Israeli Jews: Findings from the SHARE-Israel Study. Israel Medical Association Journal 14:595-601.
- Jeff Levin. (2012). Religion and Positive Well-Being among Israeli and Diaspora Jews: Findings from the World Values Survey. Mental Health, Religion & Culture 15:709-720.
- Levin, Jeff. (2011). Religion and Psychological Well-being and Distress in Israeli Jews: Findings from the Gallup World Poll. Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences 48:252-261.
- Levin, Jeff. (2011). Health Impact of Jewish Religious Observance in the USA: Findings from the 2000–01 National Jewish Population Survey. Journal of Religion and Health 50:852-868.
