The Association between Spiritual Health and Religious Beliefs with COVID-19 Preventive Practice: Application of Theory of Planned behavior (TPB)

Identifying the role of psychological variables and religious beliefs affecting COVID-19 preventive behaviors is an essential step in designing behavioral interventions aimed at controlling pandemics. The aim of this study was to predict the impact of spiritual health and religious beliefs on preventive behaviors regarding framework of extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

Using multistage sampling method, 360 citizens of Qazvin participated in a cross-sectional study. Data collection tools were demographic items, attitudes scales, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), intention, Alisonchr('39')s spiritual health, Godchr('39')s locus of health control (GLHC). Data were analyzed using LISREL 8.80 and Chi-square, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis.

The strongest correlation coefficients were observed between behavioral intention with attitude and PBC. Behavioral intention, PBC, and spiritual health also had the strongest correlations with preventive behaviors. The correlation coefficients between spiritual health and all variables were positive and significant, and GLHC had the strongest correlation with spiritual health. In addition, PBC and attitudes were the main predictors of intention, and the path coefficients between intention and spiritual health and GLHC were significant and positive. These structures described 56% and 39% of the variance of intention and COVID-19 preventive behaviors, respectively.

The results showed the effectiveness of the extended TPB associated with spiritual health & GLHC in explaining COVID-19 preventive behaviors. The clergy and donors have the capacity to raise awareness of COVID-19 to encourage the public to adhere health protocols.