Abstract

Introduction: This study was conducted with aim of investigating the relationship between religious orientation and self-esteem of students. Methods: The present research was of a correlational study. The research population consisted of all students studying at Islamic Azad University, Payam Noor and Applied Science universities in Darehshahr city in the academic year of 2013-2014. 200 students were randomly selected as samples. The research tools included Allport Religious Orientation Scale, and Coppersmith Self-Esteem Scale. In order to analyze the data, the statistical tests of Pearson correlation coefficient and Spearman correlation coefficient were used. Results: The results showed a positive relationship between extrinsic religious orientation and self-esteem and also a negative relationship between intrinsic religious orientation and self-esteem. Conclusion: All in all, it can be concluded that internal religious orientation is associated with high self-esteem. These results pave the way for future research in a direction to determine whether the individual societies that ascribe higher respect to their religion possess higher self-esteem or not. It is clear, of course, that achieving such findings requires extensive studies.