Exploring the Influence of Personality on Attitudes towards Piri-Muridi Relationship: A Mediation Analysis of Belief Systems

Abstract

Despite its prevalence in Pakistan, Piri-Muridi remains a neglected area of scientific inquiry. This study seeks to fill this knowledge gap by exploring the personality characteristics that facilitate engagement in Piri-Muridi practices, with a particular focus on the mediating role of the Big Five personality traits. A cross-sectional, quantitative design was employed to investigate the relationship between personality traits, as measured by the NEO-PI-R, and Piri-Muridi beliefs, with a particular focus on the moderating role of demographic variables. The study utilized the Urdu version of the NEO-PI-R and the Piri-Muridi scale developed by Hassan and Kamal (2010), collecting data from a sample of 401 individuals with diverse beliefs about the Piri-Muridi institution, selected through snowball sampling. The results of this investigation provide novel insights into the relationship between personality traits and attitudes towards Piri-Muridi, with neuroticism emerging as the most significant predictor. The study's findings also underscore the importance of considering demographic factors, such as gender and marital status, in understanding this relationship. This investigation yields important implications for the field of psychology, particularly in the context of the psychology of religion, by elucidating the complex relationships between personality factors, spiritual practices, and mental health outcomes.