Exploring the Relationship between Religiosity and Psychological Distress among University Students in Punjab, Pakistan

The current study examines the connection between psychological distress and religiosity among Pakistani university students in Punjab. Students frequently experience serious mental health issues in a society where religious values are ingrained in the fabric of society and higher education is characterized by intense academic pressure. In order to investigate these two dynamics, 305 students were chosen from Punjab's public universities using a quantitative research design and simple random sampling. SPSS Version 26 was used to analyze the data that was gathered using a structured questionnaire. The study looked at the relationship between gender and mental health outcomes and religious expression, providing information about how male and female students experience and express religiosity differently. According to the findings, religion has a complex impact on students' mental health, serving as a buffer against harm as well as a possible cause of it, depending on the situation and the individual. These findings demonstrate how crucial it is to integrate frameworks that are sensitive to cultural and religious differences into mental health interventions in Pakistani universities. The results support acknowledging the role of religious belief in both vulnerability and resilience, rather than pathologizing it.