Assessing The Relationship Between Spiritual Intelligence and Psychological Distress Among Seminarians of The Catholic Diocese of Aba, Nigeria

Although Spiritual Intelligence enjoys recent recognition in research as a human potential to live a meaningful and fulfilled life even amid uncertainties and distress, no known study has been done among young people especially seminarians in Nigeria. Thus, this study uses the correlational research design to explore the relationship between spiritual intelligence and psychological distress among the seminarians of the Catholic Diocese of Aba, Nigeria. The objectives are to determine the seminarians’ levels of spiritual intelligence, their levels of psychological distress, and the relationship between spiritual intelligence and psychological distress among them. Forty-nine (49) major seminarians from the Catholic Diocese of Aba were recruited using the census method. Data collection was done through questionnaires delivered to each participant on google forms. Two standardised instruments – the Integrated Spiritual Intelligence Scale (ISIS-45) and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) were used to assess the participants’ spiritual intelligence and psychological distress respectively. SPSS (version 26) aided the data analysis. The results showed that the seminarians had an average spiritual intelligence level (n = 49, M = 72.1%, SD = .42) and an average psychological distress level (n = 49, M = 55.8%, SD = 6.46). The Pearson correlation showed a weak positive relationship between spiritual intelligence and psychological distress among the participants. There was no significant relationship between spiritual intelligence and psychological distress among the seminarians of the Catholic Diocese of Aba (r = .066, p = .653). The findings provide an increased understanding of the relationship between spiritual intelligence and psychological distress among the population studied. The study suggests the need for more investigation into the value of spiritual intelligence and the necessity of its improvement for seminarians as young people and as future leaders who will need to have the necessary resources to guide others in their wellbeing in a distressed country like Nigeria.