The Mediating Role of Mindfulness in the Relationship between Spirituality and Wisdom

Cheraghi, Fereshteh; Ghorbani, Roghayeh

doi:10.22055/psy.2023.44642.3107

The Mediating Role of Mindfulness in the Relationship between Spirituality and Wisdom

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Fereshteh cheraghi

Roghayeh Ghorbani

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22055/psy.2023.44642.3107

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between spirituality and wisdom within a causal model. Understanding the psychological mechanisms through which spirituality contributes to wisdom can provide important insights for both educational and mental health contexts. The present research employed a descriptive–correlational design. The statistical population consisted of female student teachers enrolled in their final semester at Farhangian University of Tehran. Using a random cluster sampling method, a total of 309 participants were selected for the study. Data were collected through three standardized instruments: the Five-Dimensional Wisdom Questionnaire developed by Webster, the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire designed by Baer et al., and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale developed by Dehshiri et al. All instruments demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties in previous studies and in the present sample. Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS software. Before testing the hypothesized model, preliminary analyses were performed to assess assumptions of normality and to evaluate descriptive statistics and correlations among the study variables. The proposed model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data based on multiple goodness-of-fit indices. The results indicated that spirituality had a significant direct effect on wisdom. In addition, spirituality exerted a significant indirect effect on wisdom through mindfulness, confirming the mediating role of mindfulness in the proposed model. Specifically, higher levels of spirituality were associated with greater mindfulness, which in turn predicted higher levels of wisdom. Overall, the findings showed that spirituality and mindfulness together accounted for approximately 75% of the variance in wisdom. In conclusion, the results highlight the important role of mindfulness as a psychological mechanism linking spirituality to wisdom. These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of wisdom development and have practical implications for educational and psychological interventions. Accordingly, it is recommended that future intervention studies focus on enhancing spirituality and mindfulness to promote wisdom, particularly among teacher education students and other populations involved in educational and helping professions.

Keywords

spirituality

wisdom

mindfulness

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