Religiosity, impulsivity, and compulsivity in university students

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Mental Health Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Prior research indicates religiosity correlates with improved mental health indicators like self-esteem and reduced substance use.
• However, the relationship between religiosity and impulsive/compulsive tendencies remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between religiosity and impulsive and compulsive behaviors and traits among university students.

Main Methods:

• A large-scale anonymous online survey was administered to 9,449 university students.
• The survey assessed religiosity, substance use, mental health, and impulsive/compulsive traits.
• Students were categorized into high and low religiosity groups based on z-scores for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• A total of 3,572 students responded (57.1% female).
• Higher organizational, intrinsic, or subjective religiosity was associated with better self-esteem, lower rates of alcohol/drug problems, and reduced impulsivity (attention, planning).
• No significant differences in compulsivity were found between groups; effect sizes were small, except for a medium effect between religiosity and lower impulsivity.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates a significant link between higher religiosity and lower impulsivity, alongside enhanced mental health across multiple domains.
• Further longitudinal research is necessary to establish causality and the direction of these associations.