The relationship between hope and religiosity in high school students: The case of Bartın İmam Hatip high schools

This study was conducted to understand the relationship between hope and religiosity in students attending Imam Hatip High Schools. In this study, in which qualitative research method was used, a total of 42 participants from Bartın Şehit Mustafa Yaman Anatolian High School, Science and Social Sciences Project School and Bartın Male Imam Hatip High School were interviewed. Interviews were conducted within the framework of three main themes: levels of hope, perceptions of religiosity and the relationship between faith and hope. The data obtained from the participants were evaluated using thematic analysis and content analysis methods. In the findings of the study, it was found that the participants' hope levels were shaped by the factors of family, environment and religion, their dreams and goals, their perspectives on the future, and the attitudes they exhibited when they were hopeful and hopeless. Accordingly, it was concluded that the family factor was significantly influential on the participants' levels of hope, and that these participants were more clear and determined at the point of setting dreams/goals. At the same time, these participants differ from other participants in terms of developing successful strategies to combat hopelessness. In the theme of participants' attitudes towards their perceptions of religiosity, it was observed that the participants focused on two definitions of religiosity: definitions that emphasize moral values and definitions that emphasize Allah's commands and prohibitions. While defining religiosity, it was observed that the participants evaluated religiosity through someone else In the theme on the relationship between faith and hope, the participants established this relationship through prayer, prayer, belief in the hereafter, the rehabilitative function of religion and the belief in tawakkul. It was determined that the majority of the participants resorted to religion, especially in times of despair, and comforted themselves in this way. As a result of the study, considering all kinds of changes experienced by young people during adolescence, it was concluded that most of the young people are committed to their religious beliefs and values and shape their attitudes towards religiosity and hope accordingly. Keywords: Hope, hopelessness, religiosity, belief-hope, psychology of religion.