Ravanshenasi & Din

This article seeks to study the relationship between the existential and health anxiety (illness phobia) and the extent to which the three classes of people might be affected: criminals, ordinary people (laymen) and religious people. The method used in this study is a post-event method, comparative method or correlational method. To collect data, the two scales, Good’s existential anxiety scale and Cattell’s anxiety, which are of significant validity and reliability, were used. To analyze the date (variables), Pearson correlation coefficient, the one-way analysis of variance and regression analysis were used. The findings of the research showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the existential anxiety and health anxiety (also known as illness phobia).The existential anxiety can play a predicting role in the designation of the health anxiety. In comparing the three groups of people: criminals, ordinary people and religious people, it was made clear that significant differences arise as to the extent to which they are affected by the existential anxiety or health anxiety and that one’s religiousness (religiosity)and education play a great part in reducing anxiety, especially the existential anxiety. In the end, one can say that the existential anxiety can be taken as the root and origin of health anxiety. Religious people are less affected by the existential anxiety. In contrast, criminals suffer more from the existential anxiety. This bears evidence to the fact that religious commitment or religiosity has positive and criminality has negative effects as to the increase or decrease in anxiety.