The relationship between spiritual intelligence and personality traits among Jordanian university students

Abstract

Ahmad M Mahasneh,1 Nizar A Shammout,1 Ziad M Alkhazaleh,1 Ahmed F Al-Alwan,1 Jawhara D Abu-Eita2 1Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education Sciences, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan; 2Department of Curricula, Princess Alia College, Al-Balaq’a Applied University, Amman, Jordan Abstract: This study was aimed at identifying the level of spiritual intelligence and its correlation with personality traits among a group of Jordanian undergraduate students. A purposive sample of 716 male and female students was chosen from different faculties at the Hashemite University. Two questionnaires on spiritual intelligence and personality traits were distributed to members of the sample during the academic year 2013–2014. Results illustrated a medium level of spiritual intelligence in students, and indicated a positive and statistically significant relationship between spiritual intelligence dimensions (critical existential thinking, personal meaning production, transcendental awareness, and conscious state expansion) and personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness), but no significant correlation between personal meaning production and transcendental awareness dimensions and neuroticism personality traits. Finally, regression analysis results indicate that critical existential thinking is the first predictor dimension of spiritual intelligence in terms of neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. In the light of the results of this study, many recommendations were written by the researchers. Keywords: Spiritual intelligence, personality traits, Jordanian University students