Designing and Testing the Effectiveness of an Intervention based on the Technique of Godliness Versus Selfishness in Promoting Religious Health Behaviors

Most of the lifestyle modification interventions ignore the cultural elements. Religion is among the most important elements of Iranian society which should be given more value in lifestyle research. In the present study, a form of lifestyle modification program was designed and tested, which includes the promotion of religious health behaviors using the technique of godliness versus selfishness, along with teaching religious health behaviors.

The subjects were students of Alzahra University (n = 31) who were participated in sessions (including 6 sessions). In the sessions, they were helped to apply religious health behaviors by using the technique of godliness versus selfishness, in addition to the training that was provided. In the first and last session, pre-test and post-test were performed, and they were asked to complete the Religious Health Promoting Behaviors Inventory (RHPBI) and the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-28). One month after that, the follow up test was performed.

The results showed that the implementation of the intervention led to an increase in the adherence to religious health behaviors and mental health at each stage.

The intervention based on the technique of godliness versus selfishness can be used as a valuable technique in lifestyle interventions.