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The protective effects of civic communities against all-cause mortality

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  • Lee, Matthew R.

Abstract

This study integrates the civic community framework from sociology into ecological research on mortality rates. The main hypothesis is that communities with high levels of civic engagement, a strong institutional infrastructure for civic participation, and a vibrant entrepreneurial economic climate should have lower rates of all-cause mortality. The analysis drew on data from the CDC WONDER system database for all counties in the US. The results from weighted least squares analysis of county level all-cause mortality rates age-adjusted to the 2000 population provide substantial support for the civic community perspective. Net of a range of important control variables, civically strong communities exhibit significantly lower rates of all-cause mortality.

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  • Lee, Matthew R., 2010. "The protective effects of civic communities against all-cause mortality," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(11), pages 1840-1846, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:70:y:2010:i:11:p:1840-1846
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    1. Clark, Joseph, 2020. "Investment in local health-shaping institutions: Reconsidering the role of the religious environment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).

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