How Does Spiritual Intelligence Relate to Mental Health in a Western Sample?

Abstract

This study investigates a recently developed model of spiritual intelligence in relation to the common mental health concerns of depression, anxiety, and substance use. Three-hundred and fifty-three undergraduate psychology students responded to the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale–Revised, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and the Drug, Alcohol, and Nicotine scale. We hypothesized spiritual intelligence would be negatively associated with the study’s mental health outcomes. A secondary aim was to examine the contributions of spiritual intelligence model components to mental health. Overall spiritual intelligence was not associated with anxiety, depression, or substance use. Examination of the relationships between spiritual intelligence components and mental health suggested this model lacks cohesiveness in relation to mental health. While the capacity to critically examine existential issues was associated with increased depression and anxiety, the ability to draw meaning and purpose from experience was associated with improvements in all mental health outcomes. These findings cast doubt on the construct of spiritual intelligence and suggest that existential thinking and the production of meaning may be closely related to mental health. Future research should explore differences in spiritual intelligence components and their associations with mental health among varying religious affiliations.

The Relationship Between Spirituality, Health-Related Behavior, and Psychological Well-Being

“…Thus, spirituality may as well strengthen psychological well-being. Moreover, Giannone and Kaplin (2020) confirm that existential thinking and the production of meaning may be related to mental health. In general, spiritual intervention programs also contribute to mental health and well-being (Sanyal et al, 2020).…”

Spiritual Activity as an Effort to Cope with Depression during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

“…In accordance with Gonzales-Sanguino's study, groups of adolescents are more likely to experience symptoms of depression because the younger group possesses less maturity and resources to deal with stress (González-Sanguino et al, 2020). Adolescents are still progressing a perspective of the world and do not yet possess a satisfactory answer on the meaning of life (Giannone & Kaplin, 2020). They also own the frequency of accessing news of the COVID-19 pandemic through social media, which makes them more vulnerable to anxiety and depression (Zarrouq et al, 2021).…”

Development of the Greek version of the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory-24 (KAPN): factor structure and validation

“…quality-oflife, resilience) (Panzini et al, 2017), psychotherapeutic (Captari et al, 2018), organizational (Anbugeetha, 2015) and educational (Ault, 2010) contexts. As a matter of fact, the importance of religion and/or spirituality (R/S) has entered the realm of policy-making worldwide, further confirming this field of exploration as a legitimate focus of broader concern (Bigger, 2008;Forrester-Jones et al, 2018;Giannone & Kaplin, 2017;Sango & Forrester-Jones, 2014).…”