Performing Congregational Prayer and its Effects on the Lifestyle and Mental Health of Farhangian University Students and Staff (with a Phenomenological Approach)

In the last two decades, religious behaviors have been studied as factors affecting lifestyle and improving mental health, and various researchers have sought to identify behaviors that have the greatest impact on lifestyle and mental health components. One of these religious behaviors that has been of interest in Islam is praying in congregation. The present study was conducted with the aim of explaining the phenomenology of the effects and consequences of congregational prayer and its effects on the lifestyle and mental health of students, employees and faculty members of Farhangian University of Ardabil province.

This research is practical in terms of purpose and phenomenological in terms of method. In this research, in order to investigate the effects and psychological-social consequences of congregational prayer, 24 expert and knowledgeable people were used, using criteria-based purposeful sampling until reaching theoretical saturation. The data collection tools were semi-structured interviews and scientific documents. And in order to analyze the data, it was done using the theme analysis method and using open, axial and selective coding in the MAXQDA2018 software. The validity of the research findings was ensured by using methods of review by members, peer review, and the collaborative nature of the research. Also, in order to measure the reliability of the done codings, retesting and intrasubject agreement methods were used, which obtained 80 percent and 79 percent, respectively. Since they were higher than 70 percent, its reliability was confirmed.

The results showed that the number of primary concepts obtained from the interviews was 73 concepts, in the form of three main individual themes including sub-themes (closeness to God, commitment to Islamic ethics and human excellence), social and family themes including sub-themes ( Social cohesion, increasing morale and strengthening social (psychological) harmony were divided into sub-themes (decreasing psycho-physical tensions, mental health and moral virtue).

Based on the obtained results and for the practical application and use of Namaz works in different dimensions of life in the society, the serious will of influential factors in this field is necessary.