Studying the depression and anxiety of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences Students Participating in the I’tikaf Ceremony in 2018: A Descriptive Study

depression and anxiety is one of the important issues in mental health. Religious beliefs and remembrance of God are among factors affecting depression and anxiety. The purpose of this study was to investigate the depression and anxiety of students of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences who participated in the I’tikaf ceremony in 2018.

This is a descriptive study where the individuals participating in the I’tikaf ceremonywere selected by census (n=75) and 75 persons were selected via simple randomization method from among thestudents of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences in 2018. Data were collected using a demographics form, Beck Depression and Spielberger Anxiety Inventoris. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics (ttest, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, and paired t-test) at the significance level of p <0.05.

There was a significant difference between the total score of depression and anxiety in the I’tikaf group before and after the ceremony (p<0.001), But in the control group, there was no statistically significant difference in the total scores of depression and anxiety before and after the ceremony, respectively (p=0.59) (p=0.70). The mean difference of depression and anxiety total score in I’tikaf group was less than the control group, which was statistically significant (p=0.01).

According to the findings, it can be said that participation in this ceremony and similar rituals canimprove the variables of mental health such as depression and anxiety, which its universality requires the exact planning ofthose in charge.