Overall levels of involvement with formal social ties have also been associated with healthy habits in prospective studies (Berkman & Breslow 1983). In particular, religious ties have been linked to health habits (Strawbridge et al. 2001), with evidence linking religious participation to lower levels of tobacco and alcohol use in adults (see a review in Krause 2008). Religious participation has also been linked to greater physical activity and exercise (Idler & Kasl 1997). Ties to schools show similar patterns. The more bonded young people are to schools, the less they engage in substance use (Crosnoe 2006). Community ties continue to be important in adulthood when participation in volunteer work and community organizations is associated with healthier lifestyles (Musick & Wilson 2007). Different social ties may serve as functional equivalents for one another in affecting health habits (House 2001), but, as in adolescence, the constellation of social connections rather than any particular connection likely drives adults’ health lifestyles.
