Superstition and Its Association with Depression and Anxiety among University Students

Superstitious beliefs and practices have a determining role in culture and society in traditional communities and influence their worldview and value system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between superstition tendency and depression and anxiety among college students. The present study was descriptive-correlational. The research population consisted of all students who were studying at the Islamic Azad University of Bandar-e Anzali in the academic year ۲۰۲۱-۲۰۲۲. From this population, ۳۳۵ people were selected as the sample using the convenience sampling method. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Superstition Tendency questionnaires were administered to them and the questionnaires were analyzed using correlation and regression statistical methods after collection. The Results showed that there was a significant relationship between superstition tendency and depression and anxiety (P <۰.۰۰۱). As a result, it can be said that superstition tendency can predict depression and anxiety in university students.