The Relationship between Religious Internalization styles and Family Cohesion among a Group of Married Students of Shiraz University

The family, as the first social organization, plays a fundamental role in the formation of people's personality and characteristics; meanwhile family cohesion is a very important variable. The principle aim of the present study was to examine the prediction of family cohesion based on religious internalization style. The present research method was descriptive and carried out on quantitative paradigm. The sample of the study consisted of 232 married students – male (137) and female (95) - of Shiraz University during the academic year of 2011-2012. Religious Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-R) (Ryan et al.) and Samani Family Processes Scale were administered at the subjects.The Cronbach alpha coefficient and factor analysis were used in order to determine reliability and validity of the measures. By using multiple regression analysis, the family cohesion prediction by religious internalization styles including identification and introjection were studied. Research finding showed that identification style was a positive predictor and introjection style was a negative predictor of family cohesion. We conclude that the religious identification style would increase family cohesion.