Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal

Background and Objectives: The impact of religion on health and cure has been known for centuries. Some studies report religious beliefs to bear a positive influence on mental health, while others indicate their negative impacts. Considering the controversy among previous studies, we undertook this study to evaluate the relationship between religious orientation and mental health in a group of students.

Methods: This is a descriptive correlation study on medical students at Shahr-e-Kord University of Medical Sciences. 200 medical students were selected using randomized convenience sampling. Data were collected using the general health questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Religious Orientation Scale (Golriz and Baraheni). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation coefficient along with SPSS-16 software.

Results: The findings of our study indicated a significant negative correlation between religious orientation and mental health.

Other findings showed that with increase of religious orientation, its correlation with mental health also increased. This correlation, however, was consistent only to a certain level (2.51 to 3.75); beyond this level (3.76 to 5) the result was reversed, indicating a lack of correlation between religious orientation and mental health.

Conclusion: In conclusion, it must be stated that, as Allport stated, only intrinsic religion improves mental health. Extremism is mostly observed in people with an extrinsic religious orientation and this may account for the findings of our study and those of other studies which have reported negative impacts of religious orientation on mental health.