Relationship between Spiritual Intelligence, Happiness and Academic Achievement in Students of Qom University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Spiritual intelligence as the foundation of one's beliefs has a crucial role in different aspects of human life particularly in provision and promotion of mental health. On the other hand, the role of happiness in mental health, physical health, and efficient social partnership is considered to be very important. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spiritual intelligence, happiness and academic achievement in students of Qom University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive, analytical research conducted in 2011-2012, a census sample of 353 medical, nursing, and midwifery students were studied. Data gathering tools included the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and spiritual intelligence Questionnaire of Badie. Data were analyzed via ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and t test. Results: The mean and standard deviation for total score of spiritual intelligence and happiness were 152.93±18.83 (out of 210) and 48.33±16.22 (out of 87), respectively. A direct, significant, and moderate relationship existed between the spiritual intelligence and happiness scores(r=0.599, p=0.0001).There was a weak but significant relationship between the spiritual intelligence and academic achievement(r=0.12, p=0.041). Mean score for happiness was not correlated with academic achievement (p>0.05). The mean score of spiritual intelligence in males (149.74±17.11) was significantly different(t=3.98, p=0.048) from that of females (154.32±19.45). Also statistically significant differences were observed in the mean scores of happiness among students with different fields of study(F=3.94, p=0.020) and also with different economic status were significantly different (F=3.98, p=0.008). Mean scores of spiritual intelligence of students with different fields of study (F=3.65, p=0.027) and with different economic status (F=4.15, p=0.007) were also significantly different. Conclusion: Higher spiritual intelligence was associated with more happiness and academic achievement of students. It seems that promotion of spiritual intelligence creates a cheerful mood and promotes academic achievement of students of medical sciences and thus improves the quality of medical care to patients.