Relationship between spiritual and emotional intelligence

Spiritual intelligence and emotional intelligence may complement each other in order to make a healthy life. On the one hand, spiritual intelligence leads to stabilization of virtues through improving spirituality and religious convictions and on the other hand, emotional intelligence improves social relations and controls affections and feelings. This may help individuals to move towards perfection.

Methods and Materials:

 This was a descriptive-correlational study, and the sample size included 424 students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2011, who were selected using multi-stage cluster random sampling method from different faculties and majors. Data collection tools included the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire of Petrides and Furnham (TEIQue) and a researcher-made spiritual intelligence questionnaire (with reliability coefficients of 0.84 and 0.87, respectively). Multiple regression was used to analyze the data.

The results of regression analysis showed that there was a correlation between spiritual intelligence and emotional intelligence. This relationship, which was statistically significant, was observed in different aspects of spiritual and emotional intelligence.

Higher spiritual intelligence leads to higher emotional intelligence and indeed, spiritual intelligence amplifies emotional intelligence.