Description

The Iranian Religious Coping Scale (IRCS) is a psychometric tool designed to assess the religious coping strategies used by individuals in Iran. This scale examines how religious beliefs and practices influence the way people cope with stress, challenges, and difficulties in their lives. The IRCS was developed based on the cultural and religious particularities of Iranian society.

Objective

The main goal of the IRCS is to provide a reliable and valid tool for evaluating the religious coping strategies of individuals in Iran. This tool helps researchers and clinicians understand how religious practices and beliefs affect the psychological well-being and coping abilities of individuals. Furthermore, it can be used to study the relationship between religiosity and various psychological and social factors.

Analysis

The IRCS consists of a series of statements that assess various aspects of religious coping strategies. The main dimensions that are usually examined include:
Religious Support:
Assesses the degree to which individuals seek support from their religious community and leaders.
Example statements:
“I seek support and guidance from my imam when facing difficulties.”
Prayer and Trust in God:
Assesses the use of prayer and trust in God as coping strategies.
Example statements:
“I pray for strength and guidance when facing challenges.”
Religious Practice:
Assesses the frequency and devotion to religious practices as a means of coping.
Example statements:
“I observe my religious duties to find peace and relief.”
Seeking Meaning through Religion:
Assesses the effort of individuals to find meaning and purpose through their religious faith.
Example statements:
“I try to find meaning in my difficulties through my religion.”

Scoring

The scoring of the IRCS is done using Likert scales, where participants rate each statement on a scale from 1 (never) to 5 (always). Responses are collected and analyzed to produce overall scores for each dimension of religious coping strategies. Higher scores indicate greater use of religious coping strategies.

Bibliography

Ghobari Bonab, B., Miner, M., & Proctor, M.-T. (2013). The relationship between religious coping strategies, attachment to God, and mental health in a Muslim context. Journal of Religion and Health, 52(2), 621-632.
Pargament, K. I. (1997). The Psychology of Religion and Coping: Theory, Research, Practice. Guilford Press.
Koenig, H. G., King, D. E., & Carson, V. B. (2012). Handbook of Religion and Health. Oxford University Press.
Ano, G. G., & Vasconcelles, E. B. (2005). Religious coping and psychological adjustment to stress: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(4), 461-480.