Investigation of the relationship between spiritual intelligence and the light triad in university students

This study aims to examine the relationship between the factors of spiritual intelligence and the light triad, and to determine the predictive power of the light triad on spiritual intelligence. Additionally, the study investigates whether spiritual intelligence varies according to gender. Data were collected using a convenient sampling method. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 293 students from Sakarya University, including 249 female students (85%) and 44 male students (15%) who were enrolled during the 2023-2024 academic year. The data were collected using the "Spiritual Intelligence Characteristics' Scale" and the "Light Triad Scale". Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to determine whether there was a significant relationship between the factors of spiritual intelligence and the subdimensions of the light triad. The predictive power of the Light Triad on the factors of spiritual intelligence was examined through multiple regression analysis. The results of the correlation analysis revealed a generally positive significant relationship between spiritual intelligence and the subdimensions of the Light Triad. However, no significant relationship was found between the ability to understand the spiritual /non-material aspect of life and faith in humanity, and between personal meaning production and humanism and faith in humanity. The multiple regression analysis results indicated that the ability to understand the spiritual /non-material aspect of life, a factor of spiritual intelligence, significantly predicted the humanism subdimension of the Light Triad, while faith in humanity and Kantianism subdimensions did not. It was found that the Light Triad's faith in humanity and Kantianism subdimensions predicted metaphysical awareness, a factor of spiritual intelligence, while the humanism subdimension did not. The Kantianism subdimension of the Light Triad predicted the factor of entering into heightened states of consciousness and awareness in spiritual intelligence, while the humanism and faith in humanity subdimensions did not. Additionally, the humanism subdimension of the Light Triad predicted the awareness factor of spiritual intelligence, while faith in humanity and Kantianism subdimensions did not. The Kantianism subdimension of the Light Triad predicted the personal meaning production factor of spiritual intelligence, while the humanism and faith in humanity subdimensions did not. Furthermore, a t-test was conducted to determine whether spiritual intelligence varies according to gender. The t-test results showed that there was no significant variation in spiritual intelligence based on gender.