Role of Meta-Cognitive Beliefs in Predicting General Health of Quran Memorizers and Nonmemorizers

Public health has always been a very important issue in societies and the Quran memorizing can help to improve general health of people through affecting endogenous factors. The aim of this study was to compare role of meta-cognitive beliefs in predicting general health between Quran memorizers and nonmemorizers. In a causal-comperative study, 80 subjects have been selected from Quran memorizers and 80 from nonmemorizers in Ardabil province by available random sampling method. Data were collected using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Metacognitive Beliefs Questionnaire (MCQ-30). Data were analyzed by chi-square (χ2), analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate regression analysis using SPSS-16 software. Results showed significant differences between Quran memorizers and nonmemorizers with respect to physiological symptoms, social dysfunction, depression, and general health (p<0.001). Comparison of meta-cognitive beliefs in these groups showed that nonmemorizers’ negative beliefs are higher than Quran memorizers (p<0.01). No differences were observed in other components of two groups. The model for prediction of general health based on meta-cognitive beliefs were significant for Quran memorizers and 15% of the total variance of general health was explained by meta-cognitive beliefs. This study indicated that Quran memorizers’ general health is higher than nonmemorizers and meta-cognitive beliefs have an important role in predicting Quran memorizers’ general health. Thus, promoting Quran activities and training of meta-cognitive skills can play important roles in people’s general health promotion.