Comparison of Hope and Psychological Well-Being among Adolescents with Different Religious Orientations

Abstract

Religion and spirituality have held great importance throughout human life, and during all periods in which psychology has been studied as a scientific discipline, they have also attracted the attention of psychologists. Considering various theories and perspectives on religion, many of which approach it from different viewpoints and in different contexts, all agree on one point: religion's impact on the human psyche. Research has examined religion, psychological well-being, and life expectancy (hope for life), as well as their mutual effects. However, the absence of comparative studies examining the impact of each religion on the human psyche in our country, which itself includes diverse religions and sects, was felt. Therefore, this applied study, of a causal-comparative type, was conducted with a sample of 185 Iranian adolescents aged 15–18, selected through convenience sampling. They were assessed using Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire and Snyder’s Hope Scale. The data were analyzed using the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test. The results indicated that psychological well-being and hope for life differ significantly among adolescents of different religions.                                                                                   

Keywords: Religion, Adolescents, Psychological Well-Being, Hope