title: A recent survey of consanguineous marriages in Japan: religion and socioeconomic class effects.
abstract: A survey of consanguineous marriages in Japan was conducted on 1 September 1983 through questionnaires. The total number of couples studied was 9225, chosen from six widely different areas of Japan. Among six religious groups, the mean inbreeding coefficient (F) is the highest in Buddhists (0.0019), and lowest in 'no religion' (0.0008) and Catholics (0.0009). The F values for Buddhists and individuals with no religion decreased with marriage year in Fukue City and in the five other areas. In the latter group, the F value for Shintoists also decreased with marriage year. In the five areas, the F value is higher in Buddhists than in the 'no religion' group in each marriage year. Among educational groups, the F value was highest in graduates of junior high school for husbands (0.0025) and wives (0.0024), whereas the F value was lowest in graduates of a college, university or graduate course for husbands (0.0006) and wives (0.0005). Occupationally, the F value was the highest in agriculture, forestry and fishery for husbands (0.0035) and wives (0.0032), whereas the rate was the lowest among salesmen, for husbands (0.0006), and in professional occupations and researchers, for wives (0.0004). The causes of the declining F value are discussed.
mesh_terms: D003241:Consanguinity; D003625:Data Collection; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D009790:Occupations; D012067:Religion; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors