The Relationship between Religious Orientations with Post-Traumatic Growth Survivors with Covid-19

 Due to its being new and unknown, high prevalence and mortality rate, as well as creating fear and panic among people, the Covid-19 viral disease has left the world with no choice but finding its cure. One of the positive consequences of post-traumatic stress disorder is the occurrence of post-traumatic growth (PTG), during which the individual tries to reconstruct him/herself mentally and psychologically in order to return to the ideal conditions through his/her abilities and facilities. Religious orientation is an individual’s overall approach to religion and the indicator of following or having a tendency towards religious teachings, which can be internal or external. Religious orientation is a unifying principle and a great force, which plays an important role in mental health. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between religious orientation and post-traumatic growth in Covid-19 survivors.

 This research is a cross-sectional correlational study conducted on 222 Covid-19 survivors. The samples were selected through continuous sampling method from October to December 2022. The participants filled out an online questionnaire including three tools: A demographic questionnaire, the Religious Orientation Scale (ROS; Allport & Ross, 1967) and the posttraumatic growth inventory (Tedeschi et al, 1996). Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation, frequency distribution and numerical indices), inferential statistics (Pearson's correlation test) and SPSS statistical software version 26 were used for data analysis.

Ethical Considerations: 

The research objectives were explained to the participants and data confidentiality was ensured. The informed consent was obtained from the participants.

 The results of the present study showed that the total score of religious orientation was 86.04±2.91, the score of external religious orientation was 49.02±1.60, the score of internal religious orientation was 37.01±2.16, and the total score of post-traumatic growth was 80.57±5.61. In addition, the dimension new methods was 19.49±2.26, the dimension in relation with others was 26.72±3.13, the dimension personal strength was 15.56±1.97, the value of life dimension was 11.05±1.49 and the dimension spiritual change was 7.73±1.42. Moreover, there was a significant positive relationship between the variable of religious orientation (internal and external) and post-traumatic growth (total (p<0.001 & r:0.342), external (p:0.002 & r:0.203) & internal (p<0.001 & r:0.309)). Furthermore, there was a positive significant relationship between the dimension new methods of post-traumatic growth and total religious orientation. There were also significant positive relationships between the dimension in relation with others and post-traumatic growth personal strength and internal religious orientation and total religious orientation, as well as between post-traumatic growth value of life dimension and religious orientation (internal and external). However, there is no significant relationship between the dimension spiritual change and religious orientation (internal and external), (total (p:0.217 & r:0.083), external (p:0.225 & r:0.082) & internal (p:0.447 & r:0.051)).

 The findings of the research showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the two variables of post-traumatic growth and its dimensions and religious orientation (external and internal). The final findings of the present study indicated that religious orientation (internal and external) is an important factor in promoting post-traumatic growth. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures in hospitals in order to meet patients’ religious needs.