Mediating Role of Distress Tolerance in Relationship of Emotional Maturity and Spiritual Intelligence with Adjustment to University Summary

Adjustment to university is an important factor in different dimensions of students’ life such as mental- physical health and social adjustment in the fields outside the university. The aim of this study was to determine mediating role of distress tolerance in the relationship of spiritual intelligence and emotional maturity with adjustment to university. In this correlation study, based on Krejsi and Murgan table, 273 students of Shahid Chamran University in Ahvaz city were selected via multistage cluster sampling method during the fall semester of the academic year of 2016-2017. The participants completed the items of Emotional Maturity Scale, Distress Tolerence Scale, Spiritual Intelligence Inventory and Adjustment to College Scale. The data were then analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, structural equation modeling. All ethical issues were observed in this study and the researchers declared no conflict of interests. The findings showed that emotional maturity, spiritual intelligence, and distress tolerance had positive significant correlation with adjustment to college. There was also a positive significant correlation between emotional maturity as well as spiritual intelligence and distress tolerance. The proposed model for relationship between these variables has acceptable fit with a correction and removal of direct path of spiritual intelligence with adjustment to college. Direct path of emotional maturity to adjustment to college was significant. The analysis based on Bootstrapping indicated that all indirect paths were significant. It is proposed that to raise adjustment to university, educational programs for emotional maturity and spiritual intelligence with an emphasis on enhancing distress tolerance should be developed.