Path Analysis Model of the Relationships between Self-Concept, God-Conception and Life Satisfaction

This study is conducted to investigate the role of "conception of God" in relation to "self-concept" and "life satisfaction". The research method is "descriptive-correlational" and the statistical population is all the M.A. degree students of Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, among whom 153 students were selected by "cluster random sampling" method with the sample unit of classes. Three questionnaires were used to collect information: Beck “Self-concept” (BSCT), Greenway “God Conception” (RSI), and Diener “Life Satisfaction” (SWLS). The collected data, obtained through structural equation modeling (SEM), was analyzed using multiple regression in a hierarchical manner, and through the steps suggested by Baron and Kenny (1986). According to the results of the path analysis, "conception of God" plays a mediating role in the relationship between "self-concpet" and " life satisfaction." In addition, self-concept directly provides a positive and weak prediction of life satisfaction, and indirectly – considering parameters such as presence and God help – it provides a positive and meaningful prediction of life satisfaction; and considering the parameter of negative conception of God, it provides a negative prediction of life satisfaction. Therefore, the results of the path analysis indicate a meaningful mediating role for God conception in the relationship between self-concept and life satisfaction.