Relationship of Spiritual Intelligence, Perceived Stress and Flexibility of Action with Psychological Well-being in the Elderly

Elderly is a sensitive period in human life which elderly people is exposed to many problems including chronic diseases and reduced individual autonomy. Present research aimed to investigate relationship of spiritual intelligence, perceived stress and flexibility of action with psychological well-being in the elderly living in the center of aging.

Present research was a cross-sectional from correlation type. Research population was elderly living in the centers of aging of Ahvaz city in 2018 year that from them 320 people was selected by available sampling method. Data were collected by questionnaires of King's Spiritual Intelligence (2008), perceived stress Cohen et al. (1983), and flexibility of action of Connor and Davidson (2003) and Reif's psychological well-being (2002). Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression methods.

The findings showed that there was a significant positive correlation between spiritual intelligence (r = 0.62) and flexibility of action (r = 0.76) and significant negative correlation between perceived stress (r=-0.38) with psychological well-being in the elderly. Also, multiple correlation coefficients showed that flexibility of action (r2 = 0.44) and spiritual intelligence (r2=0.53) predicted psychological well-being in the elderly (P < 0.01).

The results indicate the importance relationships spiritual intelligence, perceived stress and flexibility of action with psychological well-being in the elderly. Therefore, in order to improve psychological well-being in elderly, can be increased their spiritual intelligence and flexibility of action and decrease their perceived stress.