Religiosity and Positivity: Exploring the Relationship Between Religious Practices and Positive Thinking Among Jordanian University Students.

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between religiosity, the frequency of daily and weekly religious practices, and positivity, conceptualised as positive thinking among Jordanian university students. Religiosity was assessed using a scale measuring the frequency of daily and weekly religious practices, while positivity was evaluated through self-reported measures of positive affect and cognitive appraisals. The analysis employed data from a random sample (n = 451; 68.7% female) at Yarmouk University, collected in 2023. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to examine the association between daily spiritual experience and positivity. Linear regression analysis evaluated the predictive effect of daily spiritual experiences on positivity. The regression analysis revealed that daily spiritual experiences significantly predicted positivity (B = 0.37, SE = .03, β = .46, p < .01), explaining the variance in positivity. These results are consistent with prior research, demonstrating a positive relationship between daily spiritual experiences and positivity and between religiosity and overall psychological well-being.