The epidemiology of demoralization in a kibbutz

This article reports a true prevalence study of demoralization conducted in a kibbutz. This commune, which assures its members all their instrumental needs throughout the individual life span, is probably one of the few of its kind in the world. All adult members (n = 353) of a kibbutz affiliated with the most orthodox of the federations replied to a self-administered interview containing the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research interview 27-item Demoralization Scale. The response rate approached 95%. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using demoralization rates and mean scores as dependent variables. The overall prevalence of demoralization was 25%. Women exhibited higher rates and mean scores. There was a clear association between occupational prestige scores and demoralization in both sexes. Discussion is based on the comparison between the study findings and those published in the literature, both in terms of the overall results and their pattern of association with key sociodemographic variables.