Determining the Model of Flourishing in Youth Based on Moral Intelligence Considering the Mediating Role of Hope

Flourishing is a state of optimal mental health. Various factors influence flourishing, among which moral intelligence can be mentioned. Moral intelligence determines a person's moral course in life and the world of work, prevents the occurrence of criminal and illegal actions, and ensures compliance with ethics in decisions. Studying the role of hope in people's flourishing is also considered by psychologists. Hope is a significant factor in life that helps people to be more compatible with others. Students have a considerable role in the progress of any country and in achieving its goals and ideals. The study of variables that play a role in reducing students' learning disabilities has always been considered because by raising and flourishing the cultured and educated generation, not only cultural and educational goals can be achieved, but it can also play an essential role in socioeconomic fields. So, this study aimed to determine the model of flourishing in youth based on moral intelligence according to the mediating role of hope.

This research was conducted analytically based on structural equation modeling. The study’s statistical population included all 20 to 35 years old students of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery studying at Iran University of Medical Sciences in the academic year 2020–2021. Of 740 students, 384 were qualified and volunteered. Available sampling was used to select the samples. In this study, considering the probability of subject’s dropout and increasing the accuracy and generalizability of the results, 384 samples were selected. The inclusion criteria for the study included studying at the university of medical sciences, living in Tehran, being interested in collaborating in research, and lacking any physical or mental illness (based on information received by self–reported method). The exclusion criterion was lack of cooperation in research and illness. The following questionnaires were used to collect the required data: Flourishing Questionnaire (Soleimani et al., 2015), Moral Intelligence Questionnaire (Lennick & Kiel, 2007), and Life Expectancy Scale (Snyder et al., 1991). To analyze the data, in addition to descriptive statistics, The Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling were used at a significance level of 0.05 in SPSS version 24 and LISREL software.

The results obtained from the Pearson correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between the research variables, including flourishing, moral intelligence, and hope were statistically significant (p<0.001). Also, the results of structural equation modeling showed that the direct effects of moral intelligence on hope (β=0.28, p<0.001), hope on flourishing (β=0.53, p<0.001), and moral intelligence on flourishing (β=0.44, p<0.001) were positive and significant. On the other hand, the indirect effect of moral intelligence on flourishing mediated by hope was positive and significant (β=0.15, p<0.001). Also, the effect of total moral intelligence on flourishing (β=0.59, p<0.001) was positive and significant. On the other hand, the results of good fit indices indicated that the model fits well (X2 /df=1.92, AGFI=0.96, GFI=0.95, CFI=0.96, RMSEA=0.055).

Based on the findings of this study, moral intelligence mediated by hope is a good predictor of flourishing, and it can determine the flourishing model. This finding can be especially useful for students of Iran University of Medical Sciences.