INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTIVE FACTORS ON THE TENDENCY TO PRAY AND HOLDING CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS IN STUDENTS OF KERMANSHAH UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Abstract

Introduction: Prayer and its performance is one of the major religious characteristics in the
religion of Islam which has important functions such as deterrence of prostitution and denial,
cultivation and health of the soul, reducing social abnormalities among others. On the other
hand, considering the importance of youth in promoting the growth of the current society, this
study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting the tendency of students to perform
prayers and congregational prayers.
Materials and methods: The present study is a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional one
conducted by the survey on all students studying in the second half of 1397 in all medical
schools of Kermanshah. The instrument of the study was a two-part questionnaire, including
demographic information form and researcher-made questionnaire of tendency to pray and
congregational prayers. Data were collected statistically using SPSS-18 statistical software.
Results: The results showed that the educational level, gender and religious beliefs of
students with a tendency to prayer were significant, so that the tendency to pray in
postgraduate students was more than the other two levels (p <0.001). The tendency to pray in
students has generally been high. The results showed that the sensitivity of the family to
immediate prayer, socializing with relatives bound to the prayer, praying by the family at
home are known as motivating factors (p <0.001). The long speech of the Imam of the
congregation between the two prayers and the opposition of friends to participate in the
congregational prayer are known to prevent students from participating (p <0.001).