The Role of Religion as a Mediator between Emotional Abuse and Emotional Disorders in Adolescents

The present study intended to determine the extent to which religion is significant as a mediator between emotional abuse and emotional disorders in adolescents, and it followed a correlational research design. The population included all middle school students in Jajarm (city in east of Iran) in the 2012-2013 academic year, all of which (604 individuals) were included in the study sample. The study instruments included Achenbach’s Youth Self-Report questionnaire, and two questionnaire assessing level of religiosity and emotional abuse. The data was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equations. The results indicated that there was a positive correlation between emotional abuse emotional (p < 0.05) and also anxiety disorders (p < 0.05). Furthermore, religion played a mediator role between emotional abuse and emotional disorder and it reduced negative effects of emotional abuse.