RELIGIOSITY, EXISTENTIAL ANXIETY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between religiosity, existential anxiety and psychological distress in young adults. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant correlation in religiosity, existential anxiety, and psychological distress and religiosity will be the predictor of existential anxiety and psychological distress. Convenient sampling was employed to select the study sample. The sample comprised of 200 young adults (Males = 60, Females = 140) within an age range of 18-25 years (M = 20.88, SD = 2.35). The data was collected from 3 universities of Lahore. The correlational research design was employed in which different tools were used to measure the study variables such as demographic sheet, Centrality of Religiosity Scale-15 (CRS; Huber & Huber, 2012), Existential Anxiety Questionnaire (EAQ; Weems et al., 2009), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale- 21(DASS-21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). Statistical Package for Social Science- Version 23 was used to analyze data. The findings of correlational analysis revealed the subscales of religiosity (intellect, ideology, public practice, private practice and experience) has significant negative correlation with existential anxiety (anxiety about death and fate, condemnation and guilt emptiness and meaninglessness). Moreover, the subscales of religiosity had significant negative correlation with stress, depression and anxiety. The results of hierarchal regression revealed that intellect was the significant negative predictor of anxiety about death and fate, emptiness and meaninglessness, condemnation and guilt, depression and anxiety. Private practice was a significant negative predictor of anxiety about death and fate, stress, depression and anxiety. Public practice was a significant negative predictor of anxiety about condemnation and guilt. Experience was a significant negative predictor of emptiness and meaninglessness.