Application of Path Analysis for the Effect of Spiritual Health on Self-efficacy by Mediation of Resilience Among Medical Students

Abstract

Background: Given the importance of spiritual health, resilience, and Self-efficacy in medical students for coping with the challenges of their long training path, this study was conducted to analyze these variables and their correlations among a group of medical students. Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 300 medical students. The subjects were randomly selected, their demographic information recorded, and they were asked to carefully complete the questionnaires. The Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Sherer’s Self-efficacy Scale were used to measure spiritual health, resilience, and Self-efficacy, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and EQS 6.4. Results were reported as mean ± SD, and statistical significance was set at P-value ≤ 0.05. Results: In this study, the mean scores for spiritual health, resilience, and Self-efficacy were 73.02, 79.67, and 59.01, respectively. The results showed a positive and significant correlation between religious health and resilience (β = 0.34, P < 0.001) and between existential health and resilience (β = 0.33, P < 0.001). Additionally, a significant correlation was found between religious health and Self-efficacy, both directly and indirectly (β = 0.85, P < 0.001), and between existential health and Self-efficacy indirectly (β = 0.29, P < 0.001). Furthermore, resilience had a direct effect on Self-efficacy (β = 0.87, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Spiritual health can predict resilience and Self-efficacy. Since individuals with high mental health demonstrate greater resilience, it can be concluded that providing supportive factors, such as religion and spirituality, to enhance mental health and spiritual intelligence can lead to improved resilience and Self-efficacy.