Self-esteem and religious orientation among adults of religious institutions in Karachi

ABSTRACT

To investigate self-esteem as a factor of intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation and to further investigate the role of gender in religious orientation among the students and teachers of religious institutions [Madrasas] in Karachi. Corelational study/comparative study. Different religious institutions of Karachi from January, 2008 to October, 2008. It was hypothesized that [1] self-esteem will be positively correlated with intrinsic religious orientation; [2] self esteem will be negatively correlated with extrinsic religious orientation; [3] females will be more intrinsically religious than males and, [4] males will be more extrinsically religious than females. The sample consisted of 74 [43 male and 31 female students and teachers] of different religious institutions of Karachi -Pakistan. Their age range was from 18 to 59 years with the mean age of 27 years [SD = 9.78]. Their socioeconomic status was middle and their minimum educational level was intermediate. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, [1] Urdu translation and The Age-Universal I-E scale [Gorsuch and Venable, [2]Urdu translation] were administered following the administration of a demographic form. Pearson Product Moment Coefficient correlation and t-test were applied to assess relationship between the variables and test the significance of the result. Results indicated that there exist a significant positive relationship between self-esteem and intrinsic religious orientation [r=.224, p<.05]. Moreover, relationship between self-esteem and extrinsic religious orientation is non significant [r = -.247, p> .05]. Further, females are more intrinsically religious [t2.249, df=72, p<.05] than males; and males are more extrinsically religious [t=2.46, df= 72, p<. 05] than females.. The findings of the present study highlight the significant role of self esteem in intrinsic religious orientation; role of gender in religious orientation and also suggest avenues for future research