The Relationship between External Religious Orientation and Self-efficacy and Public Health in Zanjan University of Medical Sciences students

ackground and Objective: Considering the general health and self-efficacy of the students and the factors that increase or decrease these variables are important goals of the university system. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between external religious orientation and general health and self-efficacy in students of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population of the study was all students of undergraduate and postgraduate students in Zanjan University of Medical Sciences in the academic year of 2015-2016. Using Cochran method, 350 people were selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected using George's external religious orientation questionnaire, General Scherer Self-efficacy and Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multivariate regression. Results: The results of Pearson correlation test showed that there is not a significant relationship between the external religious orientation variable and general health (P <0.05). Also, between external religious orientation and self-efficacy variables (r = -0.152, P = 0.038), depression (r = 0.198, P = 0.002) and social function component (r=-0.1171, P = 0.028), there was a significant relationship. Also, the results of multiple regression showed that external religious orientation is only a significant predictor of social function component, which can explain 18.8% of social function variance. Conclusion: External religious orientation affects students' depression, self-efficacy and social function.