Prediction of Depression Based on Material Attachment, Attachment to God and Ineffective Attitudes in Shiraz University Students

Identifying the causes of depression, which is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, can help prevent and treat it. From the point of view of Islam, material attachment and the kind of relationship with God are factors influencing depression. On the other hand, Western scholars have emphasized the role of ineffective attitudes as an effective factor in depression. The purpose of this study was to predict depression based on material belonging and attachment to God in comparison with ineffective attitudes. The research design was correlational, and statistical population included the students of Shiraz University 209 of whom were selected through convenience sampling. The research tools included Beck Depression Inventory, belonging, attachment to God and ineffective attitudes. The results showed that material attachment, ineffective attitudes and avoidant attachment style to God can predict depression in a positive and meaningful way. Material attachment was also identified as the strongest variable. The results indicate that Islam has many potentialities for defining the key variables in explaining depression.