The Relationship Between Spiritual Well-Being and Psychological Capital Among Nursing Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: University students’ spiritual well-being (SWB) is a potentially decisive factor in strengthening positive concepts, such as psychological capital (PsyCap). Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between SWB and PsyCap among nursing students. Methods: The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 383 nursing students of a four-year educational program using a convenience sampling method from July to December 2021 in Iran. The tools applied in this study were the psychological capital (PsyCap) questionnaire and the spiritual well-being scale (SWBS). Pearson’s correlation coefficient and hierarchy of multiple regressions were used to analyze the data. Results: The results of Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed a positive and significant relationship between religious well-being (RWB) and self-efficacy, hope, optimism, and resilience (r ranging from 0.36 to 0.45, P < 0.01). Also, the correlation coefficients between existential well-being (EWB) and self-efficacy, hope, optimism, and resilience (r ranging from 0.41 to 0.61, P < 0.01) were positive and significant. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that two areas of SWB were explained: 26.6%, 37.7%, 29.6%, and 17.9% of the variance in the students’ self-efficacy, hope, optimism, and resilience, respectively. Conclusions: SWB is a substantial issue in promoting the students’ PsyCap, and it is possible to improve their PsyCap through spirituality-based interventions.