Amish Community Research Articles

Learning Extension Through Firsthand Experiences of Graduate Students in an Amish Community

Learning Extension Through Firsthand Experiences of Graduate Students in an Amish Community

Genetic disease amongst the Plain community.

The purpose of this review is to highlight recent genetic studies of the Amish and Mennonite (Plain) communities. For decades, the study of genetically isolated populations has improved our understanding and management of genetic diseases that affect all populations. Major themes of current genetic research of the Amish and Mennonites include new causative gene and new candidate gene discovery, phenotype expansion of previously identified genetic disease, and a target for AAV9-mediated gene therapy. Additionally, several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) examining complex traits such as dementia, cardiometabolic disease, and age-related macular degeneration have been conducted. Finally, clinically relevant studies of attitudes of the Plain community towards genetic testing and telemedicine, as well as reviews of and management suggestions for the Amish variants of propionic acidemia and APOB-associated familial hypercholesterolemia have been recently published. Recent genetic studies of the Plain community continue to highlight the value of studying isolated populations to propel genetic disease discovery and treatment. Additionally, population-specific polygenic risk scores are needed for underrepresented and minority populations, to avoid exacerbating disparities in medical genetics care. Finally, it is important for clinicians to develop management guidelines for variants common in this rapidly growing population, such as propionic acidemia.

Framing Amish victimization and security through the lens of criminological theory

AbstractThis article explores the crime experience of the Amish, a rural-located religious subculture that is rarely studied by criminologists. Evidence is derived from narratives of crime experiences reported by scribes to a monthly Amish periodical called The Diary. Every month there are reports about community events from hundreds of Amish settlements, including crime. A routine activities approach helps frame the results. From 168 crime narratives, both burglary/attempted burglary and larceny/attempted larceny are the most frequently described. Suggestions for future research, including an expanded collection of crime narratives from The Diary, plus interviews with both law enforcement and other criminal justice practitioners and Amish crime victims will advance criminological understandings of Amish vulnerability to crime. The article concludes with suggested actions to improve safety and security for Amish communities using environmental criminology theories.

Breast Cancer Knowledge Among Amish and Mennonite Women.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis for women in the USA and ranks second in cancer-related deaths. Disproportionately higher breast cancer rates can be found in rural and Appalachian regions due to several social drivers of health, including poverty, access to healthcare, and lack of culturally sensitive health education. Amish and Mennonite communities, religious groups with distinct cultural practices and beliefs, experience lower mammography screening and higher breast cancer mortality rates (among Amish women). This study focuses on knowledge about breast cancer and causes of cancer among Amish and Mennonite women. A total of 473 women participated in the study at 26 separate women's health clinics throughout Ohio, consisting of 348 Amish and 121 Mennonite women, the largest study conducted on breast cancer knowledge spanning dozens of communities. Statistically significant differences were found in total knowledge scores between Amish and Mennonite women (rpb = .178, n = 466, p = .007), with Amish women having lower scores and stronger beliefs in myths associated with breast cancer cause and symptoms (χ(1) = 7.558, p = .006). Both groups often provided scientifically accurate descriptions of cancer etiology. The majority of participants underestimated breast cancer risk, highlighting the need for culturally appropriate health education programs that consider numeracy and health literacy. By implementing targeted interventions and fostering partnerships with community stakeholders using a multifaceted approach that incorporates cultural sensitivity, community engagement, and collaboration, significant progress can be made towards reducing breast cancer disparities and improving health outcomes.

The Crime Experiences of the Amish

There is little published research in peer-reviewed journals about Amish experiences with crime, with the exception of work by Byers and colleagues (Byers, 2008; Byers & Crider, 2002; Byers et al., 1999). The purpose of this article is to explore the crime experiences of the Amish, based on reports by scribes found under “Community Notes” in The Diary, one of several periodicals devoted to reporting news and events from Amish communities. Two hundred forty narratives of Amish crime experiences from 13 years’ worth of The Diary (January 2010 through December 2022) were collected and organized by crime type. Based on these narratives, there are two important findings. First, crime is not infrequent, with a diversity of crime experiences, ranging from burglary to armed robbery. Second, the most frequently described incidents in these narratives were property crimes, such as burglary/attempted burglary, larceny/attempted larceny, scams/attempted scams, and vandalism. The article concludes with recommendations for future research about crime and the Amish, suggestions for culturally appropriate educational materials for crime prevention in Amish homes and businesses, and suggestions for more effective cooperation between the Amish and the criminal justice system.

Prevalence of Accidents in Smaller Amish Settlements: 2015–2022

Many Amish people engage in manual labor tasks at work, on the farm, and at home. As such, the daily risk for injury is high. The primary mode of transportation, horses and buggies, also creates opportunities for accidents and injuries. Much of the research on injuries among the Amish focuses on hospital reports, capturing only the most severe injuries. Research is also limited by a focus on injuries to children. Many safety programs are tailored toward people living in large Amish settlements, as more people can be reached. We use accident reports submitted to The Diary, a monthly newspaper, to determine the type and prevalence of accidents in small Amish communities. Accidents related to falls, manual labor, and buggy and/or vehicle crashes are the most prevalent forms of injury across age groups. Most accidents do not involve serious injuries and are likely to escape the purview of mainstream medicine. The prevalence of accidents at the house or on the property involving young children suggests that culturally appropriate prevention measures tailored to daily activities would be helpful to lower the incidence of injury.

Amish and Non-Amish Farmer Perspectives on Climate Change Causes, Effects, and Adaptation Strategies

Successful agricultural extension programs on climate change require a better understanding of the diverse and evolving farm population. Amish communities are an increasing constituency of rural populations. Ohio Amish and non-Amish farmers (n = 122) were surveyed on attitudes about weather events, climate change, potential adaptation, and policy strategies. Farmers’ belief in climate change and its associated effects were relatively low compared to other studies, with Amish farmers’ belief in climate change less than half that of their non-Amish counterparts. Farmers also tended to focus on isolated weather events over long-term trends. Respondents expressed more concern about government strategies to address climate change than the biophysical climate change effects, with a strong desire to adapt independently of government policy. These sentiments were more profound among the Amish. Both Amish and non-Amish farmers expressed views about God being in control of the weather and, thus, not a pressing source of concern for them. Results indicate the importance of Christian land stewardship principles and point to future research and outreach possibilities that could develop a better understanding of farmer motivations toward climate friendly practices through interviews and collaborative partnerships to promote conservation behaviors in culturally appropriate ways.

Heterozygous PAI-1 Deficiency’s Role in Pathological Aging in the Human Cardiovascular System

Background and Objective: Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) is a member of the fibrinolytic system and a marker and a mediator of cellular senescence. Experimental evidence in humans suggests that higher levels of PAI-1 are associated with increased pathological aging in several major organ systems of the human body. To better understand the role of PAI-1 in humans, specifically in the cardiovascular system, we studied the effects of a loss-of-function mutation in SERPINE1, the gene encoding PAI-1, in an Old Order Amish community in Berne, Indiana. Overall, carriers of the null SERPINE1 variant had greater leukocyte telomere lengths, lower fasting insulin levels, and less prevalent diabetes mellitus. To further the conclusions previously published, our goal is to continue to analyze data collected alongside demographic data to determine if there is a link between PAI-1 deficiency and protection against aging-related changes in the human cardiovascular system. We hypothesized that the differences between the cardiovascular endpoints between carriers and non-carriers will be most significant in older groups.
 Methods: Participants included 177 members of the community, 43 of which were carriers for the SERPINE1 mutation. To test our hypothesis, we divided participants into tertiles and compared the results of selected cardiovascular parameters of those with and without the mutation in each tertile.
 Results: Our analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in brachial pulse pressures between carriers of the null mutation and normal individuals in the third tertile, corresponding to individuals ages 55 to 82. Those heterozygous for the mutation in this age group had a lower brachial pulse pressure, suggesting there are protective effects of PAI-1 haploinsufficiency against endothelial senescence as people age.
 Potential Impact: By identifying the age group with the most pronounced effects of PAI-1 deficiency, we can further investigate the means by which these results manifest in humans and better understand where in the aging process they are most significant.

Development and assessment of educational materials for spinal muscular atrophy carrier screening in the Plain community.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has been reported in both Amish and Mennonite (Plain) communities, and a higher incidence has been observed in certain Mennonite communities compared to the general population. There are several therapies for SMA, but all are most effective in pre-symptomatic newborns. To identify couples from the Wisconsin Plain community who are most likely to have a child with SMA, carrier screening is offered via mailed kits with at-home specimen collection. Our survey data about Plain families' perspectives on genetic testing suggest educational materials are needed for individuals providing informed consent with at-home specimen collection. We therefore developed a Plain population-specific educational trifold brochure about SMA carrier screening by incorporating existing medical education strategies and feedback from Plain community members and their health care providers. Along with the brochure, surveys were included in the kits to assess baseline knowledge about SMA carrier screening ("pre-education") as well as improvement in knowledge after reviewing the brochure and cultural appropriateness of the brochure ("post-education"). Fifty-five testing kits were distributed, and 26 survey pairs (pre- and post-education) were returned and analyzed (response rate 47%). Respondents had high baseline knowledge with an average of 5 of 7 questions (71%) answered correctly on the pre-education survey. Knowledge improved after reviewing the brochure as the average score increased to 6.5 of 7 questions (93%) answered correctly. Questions about risks of having an affected child after positive or negative carrier screening showed the most improvement from the pre-education to post-education surveys. Most respondents indicated the brochure was helpful, was easy to understand, and contained the right amount of information. Overall, incorporating elements of existing medical education strategies with feedback from the target population and stakeholders about appropriate language seems to be an effective method for creating beneficial, culturally responsive educational materials for the Plain population.

Amish Attitudes and Identity in Relation to Pennsylvania Dutch

Pennsylvania Dutch is the language of hearth and home for most Amish. As such, it serves the communication purposes of the in-group and is tightly interwoven with Amish identity. In this paper, I analyze data from a sociolinguistic survey that poses questions about language use, attitudes, identity, and religion. Current and former members of various Amish groups participated in this survey along with nonaffiliated descendants of the Amish. This study finds that each group—current, former, and descended—tends to have a different relationship with the language. Current members of the Amish and/or more proficient speakers unsurprisingly identify more strongly with the Pennsylvania Dutch language and their Amish background. Individual and region-based differences also emerge, demonstrating the complexity of the issues at hand and the diversity of Amish community practices and expectations surrounding language use. How current, former, and descended Amish view and engage with the language that sets them ethnically, religiously, and culturally apart from mainstream society has much to reveal about the interplay between minority languages and perceptions of ethnoreligious identity.

Amish brain gain: Building thriving rural communities through a creation perspective toward work

The mass mechanization of farming, coupled with the push to go away for college, has led to rural communities losing many of their most educated and talented workers. This trend, referred to as brain drain, has resulted in rural communities suffering significant population declines and an array of social problems. But one set of rural communities has greatly deviated from this trend: Amish communities. Through an inductive field study of Amish communities and entrepreneurs, we reveal how the Amish have curbed mass exodus and promoted community preservation, resulting in the retention of roughly 90% of their community members and fostering a variety of entrepreneurial opportunities. Specifically, we discover that through a creation perspective toward work, a collectivist focus, and an emphasis on vocational practices, the Amish offer a nuanced approach to community cultivation, thereby reducing brain drain.

"The Graves Cannot Be Dug Fast Enough": Excess Deaths Among US Amish and Mennonites During the 1918 Flu Pandemic.

Estimating the lethal impact of a pandemic on a religious community with significant barriers to outsiders can be exceedingly difficult. Nevertheless, Stein and colleagues (2021) developed an innovative means of arriving at such an estimate for the lethal impact of COVID-19 on the Amish community in 2020 by counting user-generated death reports in the widely circulated Amish periodical The Budget. By comparing monthly averages of reported deaths before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Stein and colleagues were able to arrive at a rough estimate of "excess deaths" during the first year of the pandemic. Our research extends the same research method, applying it to the years during and immediately preceding the global influenza pandemic of 1918. Results show similarly robust findings, including three notable "waves" of excess deaths among Amish and conservative Mennonites in the USA in 1918, 1919, and 1920. Such results point to the promise of utilizing religious periodicals like The Budget as a relatively untapped trove of user-generated data on public health outcomes among religious minorities more than a century in the past.

Cardiac phenotype of propionic acidemia in the Amysh community

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background/Introduction Propionic acidemia (PA) is an organic acid disorder with poorly described cardiac phenotype despite progressive important cardiac remodeling and causes of death including congestive heart failure and sudden cardiac death, often in a setting of vigorous exercise or stress. Cardiac modifications begin at cellular level, both metabolic and lipid depositions, resulting in overall changes in shape, size, geometry and function, with ventricular dysfunction and risk for arrhythmias at young age. Purpose Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular (LV) shape and timing (especially the Isovolumic contraction time (IVCT)) can help us understand the pathophysiology during the remodeling process in this rare disease. Methods We included all the PA patients from the Amish plain Community seen in our center. Clinical data, including demographics, ECG and echo measurements were recorded. Results We included 22 patients, who were homozygous for the pathogenic variant for PA, (59% males, 20.3± 13.3 years old). ECG analysis showed mild tachycardia (92 ± 30bpm) with normal QRS (84± 18 msec) and QTc segments duration (424± 31 msec). Echocardiography demonstrated a globular LV with dilated base and apical segments, normal systolic function, and normal diastolic function. The Global Longitudinal Strain was mildly decreased (GLS −17±3.08) with a dispersion of the regional strain with apical sparing. (Figure 1). The mean LV IVCT (75 msec) was longer compared to mean RV IVCT (69 msec, Figure 1). Conclusion Patients with PA present with very specific remodeling, including an increase in sphericity of the heart and slightly decreased GLS with normal EF. The very long LV IVCT suggests a problem with pressure generation, potentially as a marker of decreased LV contractility, either at cellular level or with activation-contraction coupling. Together with the difference in timings between the LV and RV this might become a substrate for life-threatening arrhythmias. A contractility problem, together with the exercise induced arrhythmias suggest that PA patients might benefit from afterload reduction.

Mitigation of the Damage of Amish Buggies to Local Roads

This paper summarizes the results of a study that was conducted to identify all possible changes that could be made to horseshoes used by the Amish community to mitigate their damage to local roads. Several alternative horseshoes were identified, including: horseshoes with a new calk design, horseshoes coated with select tungsten carbide coating design, and a composite horseshoe. Laboratory tests were performed to quantify the reduction in damage to local roads from using the alternative horseshoes. Experiments were also conducted to evaluate the effects of the new horseshoes on horses’ hooves and legs. Finally, comprehensive cost analyses were conducted to estimate the costs to users as well as the life-cycle costs of Amish buggy routes when the different horseshoes considered in this paper are used. The results of laboratory tests indicated that the use of alternative horseshoes can significantly reduce the road damage. The experiments performed to evaluate the effect of alternative horseshoes on horses indicated that the alternative horseshoes reduced stress on the horse hoof by at least 45%, while maintaining traction. The results of life-cycle cost analyses indicated that using the alternative horseshoes with new calk design can result in reducing the annual repair costs of Amish buggy routes by at least 40%. The results also suggested that using the alternative horseshoes could reduce the annual cost of horse keeping, considering the effects of the shoes on the service life of a horse.

The Life of Pioneering Amish Studies Scholar Walter Kollmorgen: Transcript of the Reschly-Jellison Interviews

On March 20, 1994, we interviewed Walter Kollmorgen. Reschly also conducted a follow-up interview March 8, 1995. Herein, we provide the transcripts of these interviews, which are of particular historical value since Kollmorgen was one of Amish studies’ first researchers. Kollmorgen was a native speaker of German from having grown up in a Lutheran family in rural Nebraska. He and his younger sister, Johanna, both contracted polio at a very young age. The combination of German and physical limitations enabled both to establish rapport in a short time with the Amish community in Lancaster County for his rural community study. It seems he communicated more with male leaders than female members, so his observations about women in the community were fairly general. He offered several insights concerning the internal politics at the USDA and the sources of the impulse to research rural communities on a theorized stability-instability continuum. Several officials were quite attracted to the Amish lifestyle, for example. As a geographer, Kollmorgen moved on to other academic topics during a long career at the University of Kansas and he often had to search his memory to recall aspects of his research in Lancaster County. Without much previous work to build on, Kollmorgen produced one of the first scholarly studies of Amish sociology, oriented to the questions of how and why they survived the Great Depression economically and culturally. [Abstract by author.]

Oil Therapy Massage as Complementary Care of Burns and Wounds

Oil therapy massage is a part of the care of burns and wounds done by plain, lay caregivers in Amish and Mennonite communities across the United States and Canada. Oil therapy massage is used to manage scarring and to improve joint functionality and skin and tissue integrity. The purpose of this article is to describe oil therapy massage as a complementary part of after-burn care in the context of sociocultural values of plain populations in which caregivers are a part of the B&W movement. This article includes a brief description of the caring and sharing culture of plain peoples; a short history of the B&W movement; an account of the development of after-burn care; an abbreviated explanation of the oil therapy massage procedure; and details of several cases of people who were cared for with oil therapy massage. [Abstract by authors.]

P119: Molecular basis of adducted thumbs syndrome in the Old Order Amish community

P119: Molecular basis of adducted thumbs syndrome in the Old Order Amish community

Assessing the Attitudes and Perceptions of the Old Order Amish toward Genetic Testing for Familial Defective Apolipoprotein B-100

Through a founder effect, one in eight Lancaster County, PA, Amish harbors the pathogenic APOB variant R3527Q, causing Familial Defective Apolipoprotein B-100 (FDB) that is rare in the general population. Affected individuals are at increased risk for high low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease and may benefit from early screening and treatment. A qualitative interview approach was used to investigate the genetic risk perceptions of the Amish and their attitudes towards genetic testing for FDB. The goal was to identify elements necessary for a successful program that would identify high risk individuals in the Lancaster County Amish community and provide them with potentially lifesaving education and interventions. Thirty interviews were conducted. Collected data were analyzed and coded for common themes. Participants perceived a great deal of importance in genetic risk and were aware of the significant impact genetics have on health. Most individuals perceived genetic risk as more significant than family history. Twenty-four of 30 individuals would consider testing; of these, all 24 reported they would take proactive measures to reduce risks if given a positive result. Most would prefer diet modification and natural health remedies, with prescription medication only as a last resort. Several participants stated that most Amish people would be unlikely to test if they were feeling healthy. Cost was the most significant barrier to pursuing testing. Implementing a successful screening program would require community outreach and awareness, risk reduction education and support, and minimal out-of-pocket expenses. The program’s success provides insights into the efficacy of predictive genetic screening for the general population. [Abstract by authors.]

Subjectivity in the Lancaster Amish Community Study of 1940-42: 'Economic Conquest' in Loomis’s Diary and Rosinow’s Photographs

The American Farm Community Study (1940), funded by the USDA’s Bureau of Agricultural Economics, was a social investigation that sought to determine why some rural communities thrive while others fail. To conduct the Study, the Bureau sent social scientists to six rural communities across the country to investigate and document the most and least “stable” American communities. Geographer Walter Kollmorgen, sociologist Charles Loomis, and photographer Irving Rusinow documented the Old Order Amish of Lancaster County, PA, as the “most stable” community in the Study. In Lancaster, the men found a people thriving in the midst of english neighbors still economically reeling from depression and war. In existing research, Kollmorgen’s neutral/distant data collection effort receives the most attention. This study focuses on the subjectivity of Charles Loomis’ and Irving Rustow’s data collection. Loomis collected data in a personal-style diary while working as a farmhand on a former english farm taken over by an Amishman. Rusinow photographed landscapes that visually portrayed how Amish took over dilapidated english farmsteads, suggesting Amish community stability went hand-in-hand with economic conquest. Together, in word and image, Loomis and Rusinow described the Amish via narratives of conquest, empire, nascent Nationalism, and (re)valuations of the (Anglo) American dream. [Abstract by author.]

Amish Population Pyramids: Demographic Patterns across Affiliations in the Holmes County, Ohio, Settlement

Research indicates demographic trends within the Amish community remain stable over time, even as Amish populations proliferate. However, most of the research on demographic trends fails to examine variation across affiliations. We use data from Ohio Amish Directory, Holmes County and Vicinity, 2010 to construct age-sex population pyramids for three different affiliations. Population pyramids render the growth, decline, and stability of populations visible. Andy Weaver (or Dan) and Old Order churches present expanding pyramids implying rapid growth, while New Order churches render a stationary pyramid indicating slower growth. Sociologists of religion consistently find that strict churches, cultivating separation from the outside world, tend to grow faster than those that foster accommodation with the outside world. We argue that the data presented in this article suggests a similar dynamic at work in Plain Anabaptist communities.