Effects of Ramadan Fasting on the Resilience and Psychological Hardiness of Students

Introduction: Psychological hardiness and resilience are new psychological factors that have attracted the attention of psychologists in various fields. These factors are speculated to moderate stressors and their adverse effects on life. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Ramadan fasting on the resilience and psychological hardiness of students. Methods: This study was conducted on 300 students of the Islamic Azad University, Khoy Branch in Khoy, Iran in 2019. The sample population included 150 female and 150 male students who were selected via convenience sampling. One week before the holy month of Ramadan (pretest), data were collected using Connor Davidson resilience questionnaire and Ahvaz psychological hardiness questionnaire, and post test was performed one week after Ramadan. Data analysis was performed using oneway analysis of covariance. Results: Significant differences were observed in the post test scores of resilience and psychological hardiness. The effect size of fasting on the post test scores of resilience and psychological hardiness was 0.73 and 0.78, respectively (P=0.001). Conclusion: Practicing religious beliefs largely influences psychological issues and enhances mental health. The individuals who are more inclined to spirituality are less prone to mental disorders and abnormalities. According to the results, religious rituals (especially Ramadan fasting) could improve resilience and psychological hardiness.