The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between resilience and religious beliefs, and whethere or not it would be possibile to predict psychological resilience based on religious beliefs in urban and rural university students. A sample of 197 urban and rural university students (150 female and 47 male) who were selected via accessible random sampling in Payam-e-Nour University of Baft city in Kerman province completed Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA, Jowkar et al, 2010) and Scale of Belief Development (SBD, Maenavipour & Sharifi, 2003). Data were analyzed using correlation and stepwise multiple regression analyses. Findings showed that among five dimensions of religiosity, two dimensions including religious belief and religious knowledge, could positively predict psychological resilience. The pattern of relationships between variables was different in urban and rural students, so that the religious belief dimension in urban students and the religious knowledge dimension in rural students could positively predict psychological resilience. Findings of the present study confirmed the hypothesis that some dimensions of religious beliefs have a significant effect on psychological resilience in university students Considering the dominance of religious culture in the Iranian society, practical importance of these findings is reiterated. Findings are discussed in light of previous literature concerning the possible supportive role played by religion. Suggestions for further research and practical implications of the findings are also discussed.

Keywords: positive psychology, religious belief, place of residency

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