The Mediation of Spiritual Intelligence and Forgiveness in Relationship between Stress Coping Strategies and Well-being in a Structural Model

Abstract

The current study aimed at reaching a general structural model which combined spiritual intelligence and forgiveness as two mediating variables explaining the relationship between stress coping strategies and well-being, as well as identifying the contribution of spiritual intelligence and sub-dimension variables, as well as forgiveness and sub-dimensions in the interpretation of wellbeing. The study was conducted on an Egyptian sample that consisted of 737 individuals from different segments of the society. Results showed that there was a partial mediation for both spiritual intelligence and forgiveness in interpreting the relationship between negative reactivity and well-being, and between positive reactivity and well-being. In addition there was a partial mediation to forgiveness only in the relationship between behavioral actions and well-being. Moreover, the findings of the PLS (partial least squares) indicated that the spiritual intelligence )critical existential thinking, producing personal meaning, awareness transcendence, consciousness status and total score( was able to predict well-being )independence, environmental control, personal growth, positive relationship with others, have a purpose in life, self-acceptance and total score( in the study sample. Furthermore, forgiveness and its dimensions were able to predict wellbeing and its dimensions. Finally, the results of the study confirmed that when investigating the relationship between stress coping strategies variables )negative reactivity, positive reactivity and behavioral actions( and psychological wellbeing, we must take into consideration two variables; spiritual intelligence and forgiveness as they both interpret a significant part of this proposed relationship.