Religious orientation can be understood in terms of two dimensions: extrinsic religiosity and intrinsic religiosity. Those with an “intrinsic religious” orientation dedicated their life to God or a higher power and reported they were less afraid of death and experienced greater feelings of well-being, happiness and mental health than people who fit into the “extrinsic religious” category of using religion for external ends, such as a way to make friends or increase community social standing.

80 senile people were randomly selected and Allport's religious orientation scale (AROS), Argyle's happiness inventory (AHI) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) were administered on them. Pearson correlation formula was used for analyzing the data.

Findings showed that there is negative and significant correlation between intrinsic religious orientation and components of mental illness, positive and significant correlation between extrinsic religious orientation and components of mental illness, negative and significant correlation between components of mental illness and happiness.

In seeking of satisfaction and happiness of / in life people choose some ways. One of the most ways is being religious and religious orientation. In religious orientation, people with intrinsic religious orientation tend to internal value and personal relationship with God and this attitudes makes them hopefully in life and make happy them in every time of life. People with extrinsic religious orientation tend to be religious for getting the situation and prestige and social confirmation. When they do not reach to their goals they disappoint specially in aging period and get depressed.