As a spatially concentrated, rapidly growing rural ethnic religion, the Amish require particular consideration for the promotion of public health and safety.
Responding to this need, Dr. Anderson has undertaken several research projects. He has scrupulously synthesized a corpus of 246 Amish health publications, articulated major causes of buggy crashes, empirically established that Amish have lower COVID-19 vaccination rates, disaggregated cultural-religious dynamics in Amish-internal disagreements about mental health care, and critically analyzed the historic production of knowledge in Amish-focused health research. His analyses rely on a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods pulling from census data, originally collected field data, public records, and ongoing participant observation.
With many years among the Amish and in public affairs, Dr. Anderson’s studies make highly insightful recommendations for healthcare outreach, policy, and future research. As such, Dr. Anderson’s research has enabled more informed outreach efforts that respectfully account for Amish perspectives while also noting potential public health impacts. His multifaceted, interdisciplinary approach to complex issues is informing efforts to improve population health outcomes.
Dr. Cory Anderson, with former research assistant Lindsey Potts, offer a milestone series of syntheses on Amish health/wellbeing, focusing on health conditions, healthcare services, religion, and ethnicity.
Five articles provide indispensable direction not only for Amish-focused health scholars, public health officials, and service providers but for anyone broadly interested in how ethnic religiosity shapes health/care.
The series highlights many open questions about how cultural context intersects with Amish community health, where more nuanced mixed methods research is needed. But it also identifies some consistent areas of health strength and vulnerability with implications for education, policy, and service provision. Research recommendations emphasize addressing theoretical and methodological limitations, increasing interdisciplinary collaboration, and applying health research to best serve the needs of growing Amish communities through culturally appropriate interventions and resources.
Mental Health, Religion & Culture.
Anderson, Cory, and Lindsey Potts.
Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies
Anderson, Cory, and Rachel Bacon. 2024.
12(1).
Ethnicity & Health
Anderson, Cory, and Lindsey Potts. 2022.
27(8):1952-78.
Journal of Rural Social Science
Anderson, Cory, and Lindsey Potts. 2021.
36(1):Article 6.
Social Science & Medicine
Anderson, Cory, and Lindsey Potts. 2020.
265:113466.
Mobilizing originally collected data, public records, and court documents, Dr. Anderson has moved buggy crash research forward by characterizing major buggy/motor vehicle crash scenarios, analyzing the combination of variables that lead to crashes, raising questions about the “quick fix” of increasing rear buggy markings, and documenting the higher risk of crash during sunrise/sunset. While much research comes from his M.A. thesis in Urban & Regional Planning, Dr. Anderson remains active in evaluating road safety legislation, working with stakeholders including Amish and safety experts, and addressing the press about buggy crashes.
Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies
Anderson, Cory. 2014.
2(1):116-24.
Journal of Amish and
Plain Anabaptist Studies
Anderson, Cory. 2014.
2(1):100-15.
Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies
Anderson, Cory. 2014.
2(1):79-99.
M.A. thesis in Urban and Regional Planning.
Richmond, VA: Virginia Commonwealth University.
Anderson, Cory. 2008.
Population Research and Policy Review
Anderson, Cory, Shuai Zhou, and Guangqing Chi. 2023.
42(4):70.
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