The moderating role of practice of religious beliefs in relationship between spiritual well-being and depression of students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between spiritual well-being and depression with the moderating role of the practice of religious beliefs. The research design was correlation type of descriptive method.

The research population was all students of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. 205 people were selected by available sampling method. They answered the spiritual well-being, temple (practice of religious beliefs) and Beck Depression (short form) questionnaires. For data analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient and hierarchical regression analysis were used.

The results showed that in the relation of spiritual well-being with depression, the variable of the practice of religious beliefs has a moderating role. Also, all the components of the practice of religious beliefs (personal, collective, practical, and religious) also significantly moderated this relationship. These results indicate that individuals who, in addition to having a spiritual well-being, are also practicing religious beliefs, are more likely to reduce the likelihood of depression.

This finding can be used to prove the importance of the practice of religious beliefs. Also, by informing the community about the results of this study, it was used to reduce the amount of depression by increasing spiritual well-being and practicing religious beliefs.