INTRODUCTION:

Spiritual intelligence is a higher dimension of intelligence beyond the ego that has access to the mature qualities and advanced capabilities of the true self (King, 2009). The term “spiritual intelligence” was coined by the American-British author Danah Zohar and introduced the idea in 1997 in her book ‘Rewiring the corporate Brain’ (Nguyen, 2023). Some philosophers, psychologists, and developmental theorists use the phrase "spiritual intelligence" to draw comparisons between spiritual intelligence and IQ and EQ. A person's spiritual intelligence can be gauged by their Spiritual Quotient (SQ). " (Zohar, 2012).

SQ = P(IQ+EQ)

[where P = Presence; SQ = Spiritual Intelligence; IQ = Intelligence Quotient; EQ = Emotional Quotient]

The Latin term persona, which describes a theatrical mask actors wear to assume roles or conceal their identities, is where the word "personality" originates (Prince, 2021). A person's distinctive thought, mood, and behavior patterns that set them apart from others are referred to as their personality. Being a byproduct of environment and biology, it doesn't change much over life. The dynamic creation and dismantling of integrative features that set an individual apart in terms of interpersonal behavioral traits is included in personality development. Personality formation is dynamic and influenced by external circumstances as well as life-altering events. Because its conceptualization is based on social standards of expected behavior, self-expression, and personal development, it is subjective in nature. (Inglehart and Oyserman, 2004).

The extant body of literature pertaining to the correlation between personality and spiritual intelligence offers useful insights. These insights are mostly focused on the importance of traits such as agreeableness, extroversion, and conscientiousness in shaping spiritual intelligence. However, there may be gaps in the literature due to the need for samples that are more diverse than university students, the investigation of cultural differences, the use of longitudinal study designs, and a thorough comprehension of the various aspects of spiritual intelligence. Research is also needed to establish a connection between theoretical discoveries and real-world applications, create personality-trait-based interventions that improve spiritual intelligence, and investigate the relationship between spiritual intelligence, personality traits, and mental health outcomes. Filling up these gaps would help us comprehend the complex relationship between spiritual intelligence and personality qualities in a more comprehensive and nuanced way.

As researchers explore the unexplored domains of the relationship between spiritual intelligence and personality traits, future research efforts should expand their perspectives by involving a variety of groups, carrying out long-term studies, and revealing the cultural fabric that shapes these relationships. Uncharted territory that offers a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the interaction between our innate traits and spiritual intelligence is represented by investigating the effects on leadership effectiveness, examining negative traits, and experimenting with experimental interventions for personal development.

METHODOLOGY:

Statement of the Problem:

The influence of spiritual intelligence on personality development is nevertheless insufficiently comprehended in the dynamic environment of young adulthood, a crucial period with emphasis on identity formation, purpose-seeking and exploration. There is a pressing need to delve deeper into this particular area of concern as young adult’s struggle with the difficulties of discovering oneself and the complexities of contemporary life. The present study aims to investigate the critical issues raised by the problem statement which elucidates the gaps and complexities related to the role of spiritual intelligence in fostering personality development amongst young adults.

Aim:

To study the role of spiritual intelligence and personality in young adulthood.

Objective:

Based on the topic selected, the following objectives have been specified as the primary focus of the research study:

1. To explore the relationship between spiritual intelligence and personality amongst young adults.

2. To identify the differences in the level of spiritual intelligence between males and females during the phase of young adulthood.

3. To assess the level of personality development between males and females during the phase of young adulthood.

Hypotheses:

In accordance to the above-mentioned objectives, the following hypotheses have been formulated –

H₁1: There will be significant differences between the dimensions of spiritual intelligence and personality among young adults

H₁2: There will be significant differences between few of the dimensions of Big five inventory and the spiritual intelligence self –report inventory.

H₀1: There will be no significant relationship between the dimensions of the spiritual intelligence self report inventory and big five inventory amongst young adults.

H₀2: There will be no significant relationship between few of the dimensions of the spiritual intelligence self report inventory and big five inventory amongst young adults.

Sample Size:

The current study was conducted among students undergoing their academic life. A sample size of 50 students, aged 18 – 28, was taken for the research study. The sample consisted of 25 males and 25 females out of a total of 50 participants. For the selection of the sample, a stratified random sampling technique was used.

Tools of Data Collection:

A demographic sheet and two sets of questionnaires were used for data collection, which were mentioned below:

1. Demographic sheet

The demographic sheet was developed which are required by the researcher for additional information. This sheet includes: Name of the respondent, Age, Sex, Email-id, educational institution, Place of residence, Employment status, Earning source (if applicable)

2. The Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24); (King, 2008)

King David created the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI 24) in 2008 to gauge an individual's spiritual intelligence. There are four dimensions to this questionnaire: the capacity for critical thought, the capacity for personal meaning-making, the transmission of consciousness and the process of becoming aware. 24 items on a 4-point Likert scale—which is—not true at all, not true at all, quite true, very true, and true to me. Spiritual intelligence is measured in terms of scores; the higher the scores, the higher the spiritual intelligence level. David King created this questionnaire using the spiritual intelligence model as a basis (King and DeCicco, The spiritual intelligence self-report inventory (SISRI-24), 2008)

3. The Big Five Inventory (BFI); (Goldberg, 1993).

The Big Five Inventory (BFI), is a widely used psychological instrument designed to measure the Big Five personality traits. These traits are considered the fundamental dimensions of human personality and include Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. The BFI is a self-report questionnaire, and individuals rate themselves on various items related to these personality traits. This 44-item inventory that measures an individual on the Big Five Factors (dimensions) of personality. Each of the factors is then further divided into personality facets. (Goldberg, 1992)

Procedure of Data Collection:

In the process of data collection, at first the demographic sheet (which includes name, age, email, etc.) and both the questionnaires (The spiritual intelligence self-report inventory and the big five inventory) will be merged and fed into a google form. After creating the google form, it shall be shared with the concerned respondents. Through establishing personal contact and rapport building with the respondents individually thereby their consent shall be obtained regarding the use of their responses for the research project without breaching their privacy and maintaining the ethical conduct in keeping confidentiality consistent. The respondents shall be guided and provided with the objectives and instructions stated for performing the test. Also, efforts shall be put forward regarding any guidance and assistance needed when in doubt amidst the course of procedure of the test. After the completion of the test, the respondents shall be offered thanksgiving for investing in their valuable time and contribution in answering the google form. At the last, the responses shall be scored based on the scoring pattern mentioned in the respective manual.

Research Design:

In this research study, a correlational research design was employed.

Statistical Methods of Data Analysis:

For data analysis, keeping in consideration the stated objectives pearson’s correlation coefficient has been used. The data analysis has been conducted using the IBM SPSS Statistics software.

Findings and Analysis:

All the demographic data are being shown through charts and tables. Correlational research design was also applied according to the purpose of the study.

Fig 1.1 Percentage distribution of males and females

Note: The above figure represents that 50% of the individuals are male wheareas the other 50% individuals are female.

Fig 1.2 Age – wise distribution of males and females

Note: The above figure represents that 66.7% of the individuals are under 18-22 whereas 33.3 % of the individuals are above 18-22 i.e 23-28.

Table 2.1 Participant Details

GENDER	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE
No. of Males	25	50.0
No. of Females	25	50.0
Total	50	100.0

The above table shows the details of the participants, basically the young adults fulfilling the desired age category. Out of 100%, both the gender i.e males and females distinctively account for 50% each. This shows the homogeneity of the sample.

Objective: 2

To identify the differences in the level of spiritual intelligence between males and females during the phase of young adulthood.

Fig. 1.3 Graphical representation of the level of spiritual intelligence among males and females

From the above graph, objective 2 can be interpreted as the varying different levels of spiritual intelligence among males and females in the phase of young adulthood. For each level of spiritual intelligence, the maximum and minimum percentage is different. For males, the minimum level of spiritual intelligence is 25% and the maximum level of spiritual intelligence is 78%. For females, the minimum level of spiritual intelligence is 25% and the maximum level of spiritual intelligence is 80%.

Objective: 3

To assess the level of personality between males and females during the phase of young adulthood.

Fig. 1.4 Graphical representation of the level of personality among males and females

From the above graph, objective 3 can be interpreted as the varying different levels of personality among males and females in the phase of young adulthood. For each level of personality, the maximum and minimum percentage is different. For males, the minimum level of personality is 108% and the maximum level is 155%. For females, the minimum level of personality is 110% and the maximum level is 152%.

Table 2.2 Correlation between Openness and the Dimensions of SISRI-24

		OPENNESS	CET	PMP	TA	CSE
OPENNESS	Pearson Correlation	1	0.470^**	0.349^*	0.372^**	0.082
	Sig. (2-tailed)		0.001	0.013	0.008	0.573
	N	50	50	50	50	50
CET	Pearson Correlation	0.470^**	1	0.569^**	0.650^**	0.329^*
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.001		0.000	0.000	0.020
	N	50	50	50	50	50
PMP	Pearson Correlation	0.349^*	0.569^**	1	0.723^**	0.504^**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.013	0.000		0.000	0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50
TA	Pearson Correlation	0.372^**	0.650^**	0.723^**	1	0.536^**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.008	0.000	0.000		0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50
CSE	Pearson Correlation	0.082	0.329^*	0.504^**	0.536^**	1
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.573	0.020	0.000	0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50

*p<0.05, **p<0.01

Table 2.3 Correlations between conscientiousness and the dimensions of SISRI-24

		Conscientiousness	CET	PMP	TA	CSE
Conscientiousness	Pearson Correlation	1	0.227	0.321^*	0.215	0.100
	Sig. (2-tailed)		0.113	0.023	0.134	0.488
	N	50	50	50	50	50
CET	Pearson Correlation	0.227	1	0.569^**	0.650^**	0.329^*
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.113		0.000	0.000	0.020
	N	50	50	50	50	50
PMP	Pearson Correlation	0.321^*	0.569^**	1	0.723^**	0.504^**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.023	0.000		0.000	0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50
TA	Pearson Correlation	0.215	0.650^**	0.723^**	1	0.536^**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.134	0.000	0.000		0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50
CSE	Pearson Correlation	0.100	0.329^*	0.504^**	0.536^**	1
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.488	0.020	0.000	0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50

*p<0.05, **p<0.01

Table 2.4 Correlation between Extraversion and the dimensions of SISRI-24

		Extraversion	CET	PMP	TA	CSE
Extraversion	Pearson Correlation	1	0.020	0.091	0.247	0.083
	Sig. (2-tailed)		0.888	0.529	0.084	0.566
	N	50	50	50	50	50
CET	Pearson Correlation	0.020	1	0.569^**	0.650^**	0.329^*
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.888		0.000	0.000	0.020
	N	50	50	50	50	50
PMP	Pearson Correlation	0.091	0.569^**	1	0.723^**	0.504^**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.529	0.000		0.000	0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50
TA	Pearson Correlation	0.247	0.650^**	0.723^**	1	0.536^**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.084	0.000	0.000		0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50
CSE	Pearson Correlation	0.100	0.329^*	0.504^**	0.536^**	1
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.488	0.020	0.000	0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50

*p<0.05, **p<0.01

Table 2.5 Correlations between Agreeableness and the dimensions of SISRI-24

		Agreeableness	CET	PMP	TA	CSE
Agreeableness	Pearson Correlation	1	0.134	0.342^*	0.269	0.091
	Sig. (2-tailed)		0.353	0.015	0.058	0.531
	N	50	50	50	50	50
CET	Pearson Correlation	0.134	1	0.569^**	0.650^**	0.329^*
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.353		0.000	0.000	0.020
	N	50	50	50	50	50
PMP	Pearson Correlation	0.342^*	0.569^**	1	0.723^**	0.504^**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.015	0.000		0.000	0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50
TA	Pearson Correlation	0.269	0.650^**	0.723^**	1	0.536^**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.058	0.000	0.000		0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50
CSE	Pearson Correlation	0.091	0.329^*	0.504^**	0.536^**	1
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.531	0.020	0.000	0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50

*p<0.05, **p<0.01

Table 2.6 Correlation between Neuroticism and the dimensions of SISRI-24

		NEUROTICISM	CET	PMP	TA	CSE
NEUROTICISM	Pearson Correlation	1	-0.055	-0.366^**	-0.210	-0.115
	Sig. (2-tailed)		0.704	0.009	0.142	0.428
	N	50	50	50	50	50
CET	Pearson Correlation	-0.055	1	0.569^**	0.650^**	0.329^*
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.704		0.000	0.000	0.020
	N	50	50	50	50	50
PMP	Pearson Correlation	-0.366^**	0.569^**	1	0.723^**	0.504^**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.009	0.000		0.000	0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50
TA	Pearson Correlation	-0.210	0.650^**	0.723^**	1	0.536^**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.142	0.000	0.000		0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50
CSE	Pearson Correlation	-0.115	0.329^*	0.504^**	0.536^**	1
	Sig. (2-tailed)	0.428	0.020	0.000	0.000
	N	50	50	50	50	50

*p<0.05, **p<0.01

The above table shows the correlation between Neuroticism (Bfi dimension) with each of the dimensions of SISRI-24 among young adults. Firstly, the correlation between the two variables, Neuroticism and CET (neuroticism and critical existential thinking) is -0.055 which indicates no significant relationship. The near zero negative correlation suggests that levels of neuroticism does not influence critical existential thinking. Secondly, the correlation between the two variables, Neuroticism and PMP (neuroticism and personal meaning production) is -0.366 which indicates a moderate correlation, substantial but small relationship. The negative correlation implies high levels of neuroticism influence in having low levels of personal meaning production. The significance levels of both the variables is 0.009 which implies that the negative correlation is significant at the 0.01 level. Thirdly, the correlation between the two variables, Neuroticism and TA (neuroticism and transcendental awareness) is -0.210 which indicates no significant relationship. The negative correlation suggests that there is no significant relationship between neuroticism and transcendental awareness. Fourthly, the correlation between the two variables, Neuroticism and CSE (neuroticism and conscious state expansion) is, -0.115 which indicates no significant relationship. The negative correlation suggests that levels of neuroticism does not influence conscious state expansion.

DISCUSSION:

The study has found the correlation analysis between the Big Five Inventory (BFI) dimensions and the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24) dimensions which demonstrate notable relationships. Openness to Experience is positively correlated with Critical Existential Thinking (r = 0.470, p < 0.01), Personal Meaning Production (r = 0.349, p < 0.05), and Transcendental Awareness (r = 0.372, p < 0.01), indicating that individuals who are open to new experiences are more likely to engage in deep existential contemplation, find personal meaning, and possess awareness of transcendent phenomena. Conscientiousness shows a positive correlation with Personal Meaning Production (r = 0.321, p < 0.05), suggesting that conscientious individuals are inclined to derive personal meaning from their lives. Additionally, Agreeableness is positively associated with Personal Meaning Production (r = 0.342, p<0.05), whereas Neuroticism has a significant negative correlation with Personal Meaning Production (r = -0.366, p <0.01), implying that individuals with higher neuroticism are less likely to find personal meaning. Extraversion does not show significant correlations with the SISRI-24 dimensions, suggesting that extraversion is not a strong predictor of spiritual intelligence. Furthermore, the strong positive interrelationships among the SISRI-24 dimensions (CET, PMP, TA, and CSE) indicate that the various components of spiritual intelligence are interconnected, where engagement in one aspect is linked to higher engagement in others. These findings highlight that specific personality traits, particularly Openness, play a crucial role in various facets of spiritual intelligence.

Gender Distribution and Spiritual Intelligence:

The participant demographics were balanced, with an equal number of males and females, ensuring that the findings are not biased by gender disproportionality. The analysis of spiritual intelligence levels revealed notable differences between genders. Males showed a wider range of spiritual intelligence scores, with the minimum at 25% and the maximum at 78%. Females, while having the same minimum score of 25%, exhibited a slightly higher maximum score of 80%. This suggests that, while both genders possess substantial spiritual intelligence, females may have a slight edge in reaching higher levels.

Personality Dimensions and Spiritual Intelligence Correlations:

The correlational analysis between personality dimensions (as measured by the Big Five Inventory) and spiritual intelligence dimensions (as measured by the SISRI-24) offered detailed insights:

· Openness: Openness had significant positive correlations with Critical Existential Thinking (CET) (0.470, p<0.01), Personal Meaning Production (PMP) (0.349, p<0.05), and Transcendental Awareness (TA) (0.372, p<0.05). This indicates that individuals high in openness are likely to engage more in existential thinking, derive personal meaning from experiences, and possess higher transcendental awareness. However, there was no significant correlation between openness and Conscious State Expansion (CSE) (0.082, p>0.05), suggesting that openness does not necessarily relate to experiencing altered states of consciousness.

· Conscientiousness: Conscientiousness showed a weak positive correlation with PMP (0.321, p<0.05), indicating that more conscientious individuals tend to find personal meaning in their experiences. There were no significant correlations with CET, TA, or CSE, suggesting that conscientiousness does not significantly influence these aspects of spiritual intelligence.

· Extraversion: Extraversion did not show significant correlations with any of the spiritual intelligence dimensions, indicating that an individual's level of extraversion does not significantly impact their spiritual intelligence.

· Agreeableness: Agreeableness had a weak positive correlation with PMP (0.342, p<0.05), suggesting that more agreeable individuals may find personal meaning more easily. There were no significant correlations with CET, TA, or CSE, indicating that agreeableness does not significantly impact these dimensions of spiritual intelligence.

· Neuroticism: Neuroticism showed a significant negative correlation with PMP (-0.366, p<0.01), implying that higher levels of neuroticism are associated with lower levels of personal meaning production. This aligns with the understanding that individuals high in neuroticism may struggle with finding meaning in experiences. There were no significant correlations with CET, TA, or CSE, suggesting that neuroticism does not significantly affect these aspects of spiritual intelligence.

CONCLUSION:

The study provides substantial evidence that certain personality traits are related to dimensions of spiritual intelligence among young adults. Both males and females show high levels of spiritual intelligence, but females may achieve slightly higher levels in certain areas. Openness is significantly related to higher levels of existential thinking, personal meaning production, and transcendental awareness. Conscientiousness and Agreeableness are weakly but significantly related to personal meaning production. Neuroticism is negatively related to personal meaning production, indicating potential challenges for highly neurotic individuals in finding meaning in their experiences. Extraversion does not significantly correlate with any dimension of spiritual intelligence, suggesting it may be less relevant in this context. These findings suggest that spiritual intelligence is multifaceted and influenced by various personality traits.

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Received on 05.08.2024 Revised on 27.09.2024

Accepted on 06.11.2024 Published on 06.12.2024

Available online on December 31, 2024

Asian Journal of Management. 2024;15(4):360-367.

DOI: 10.52711/2321-5763.2024.00056