Studying the Relationship between Religious Orientation and Vitality and Mental Health of Male and Female Prisoners

Aim: The present study investigated the relationship between religiosity (religious orientation) and vitality and mental health in male and female prisoners of North Khorasan Province, Iran. Methods: 130 of 200 male and female prisoners were selected as sample size, and religiosity questionnaires were distributed among them (Intrinsic-extrinsic religious belief in this study was measured by Religious Orientation Scale, developed by Allport Regression test was used to analyze the data gathered in this study. Findings: the research finding showed a significant relationship between religious orientation and mental health and vitality of prisoners, which means that the relationship between mental health and being religious is stronger than the relationship between vitality and being religious. In other words, the more is religiosity, the less are symptoms, and as a result, the more are mental health and vitality. The results showed that the proportion of mental health and vitality of males was larger than females. Also the proportion of religiosity among females was larger than males. Conclusion: The results showed that there is a significant relationship between religious orientation and the mental health of prisoners.