Religious Commitment as a Predictor of Psychological Distress among Pakistani Adult Students: The Moderating Roles of Gender and Age

Abstract

This study was conducted on 300 participants to analyze the role of age and gender in religious commitment impact on psychological distress. To achieve this aim, experts used the cross-sectional correlational methodology. The authors of the study utilized Religious Commitment Inventory-10 (RCI-10), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale DASS-21 and demographics form. The data was analyzed using moderation analysis and Pearson coefficient. It was discovered that religious commitment has negative correlation with psychological distress (r=-.48; p<.001). Concerning gender, a moderating effect of this factor was established (B=-0.18; SE=0.07; p=0.010). It was also determined that religious commitment is more significant for females (B=-0.79; p<0.001) than for males (B=-0.61; p<0.001). As for the results of data analysis, age was found to have moderate effect on the relationship under study (B=-0.11; SE=0.04; p=0.006) and was found to be highly significant for older people (B=-0.95; p<0.001) but insignificant for younger generations (B=-0.13; p<0.05). Religious commitment would be a great protective factor towards psychological distress among Pakistani students studying in a university, with gender and age moderating that relationship. Such findings indicate the value of mental health interventions, which should be culturally sensitive and gender- and age-informed in supporting university students in Pakistan.