The Structural Equations Modeling of the Effect of Quality of Life on Affective-Behavioral Difficulties of Students of Martyrs' Families Based on the Role of Practicing Religious BeliefsSummary

 Nowadays, the study of religion and religiosity with a psychological approach has become one of the special mental health issues. However, the results of studies on the role of religiosity in mental health in different sections of society are contradictory. This study aims to explain the effect of quality of life on affective-behavioral difficulties of students of martyrs' families based on the role of practicing religious beliefs.

 The method of the present study is descriptive-causal-correlational. The statistical population included all students of the families of the martyrs of Golestan province, out of whom 250 were selected by the available sampling method. They filled in the Quality of Life Questionnaire, a short checklist of symptoms of mental disorders, and a questionnaire on practicing religious beliefs. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling. In this study, all ethical considerations were observed and no conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

 According to the results of this study, the rate of practicing religious beliefs by most of the students was moderately high, and the proposed model of causal relationships between research variables had an acceptable fit. In general, in the proposed research model, the results showed that the quality of life was directly and indirectly correlated with the students’ behavioral-emotional problems, anxiety, depression, obsession, sensitivity to interpersonal relationships, physical complaints and phobia relationship through the practice of religious beliefs (P<0.05). This relationship between quality of life and practice of religious beliefs was positive and significant (P<0.05). The relationship between practicing religious beliefs and behavioral-emotional problems was also negative and significant (P<0.05).

 According to the research findings, education on and promotion of the quality of life and encouraging students to practice religious beliefs lead to improved problem-solving skills and reduced behavioral-emotional problems.