Volume 21, Issue 1 (Paramedical Sciences and Military Health- Spring- 2026)
Paramedical Sciences and Military Health 2026, 21(1): 82-94 |
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Shamseddini R, Jahanbakhsh Z, Poursoliman L, Robati D, Karami Juyani A. Spiritual Health of Iranian Students: Dimensions, Challenges, and Its Role in Enhancing Mental Health. Paramedical Sciences and Military Health 2026; 21 (1) :82-94
URL: http://jps.ajaums.ac.ir/article-1-496-en.html
URL: http://jps.ajaums.ac.ir/article-1-496-en.html
Rahim Shamseddini1 
, Zahra Jahanbakhsh2 , Leila Poursoliman3 , Dariush Robati4 , Afsaneh Karami Juyani *5
, Zahra Jahanbakhsh2 , Leila Poursoliman3 , Dariush Robati4 , Afsaneh Karami Juyani *5
1- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Paramedicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Department of Emergency Medical Services, Faculty of Paramedicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
5- Department of Health Information Technology, Faculty of Paramedicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,Afsaneh.k1720@gmail.com
2- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Department of Emergency Medical Services, Faculty of Paramedicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
5- Department of Health Information Technology, Faculty of Paramedicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,
Abstract: (20 Views)
Introduction: Spiritual health, as a fundamental dimension of holistic health, plays a key role in meaning-making, resilience, and psychological adjustment among university students particularly in the context of academic, identity-related, and social pressures. This narrative review aimed to systematically analyze existing evidence on the impact of spiritual health on mental health and academic performance among Iranian students and it identified related influencing factors and challenges.
Materials and Methods: A structured search was conducted across national and international databases using spiritual health, mental health, students, resilience, spirituality, and psychological well-being keywords. Inclusion criteria comprised studies focusing on Iranian student populations, addressing spiritual health and mental health, using articles which were published from 2015 onward, and availability in papers full text. Studies involving non-student populations and those which lack the analysis of the relationship between spiritual and mental health did not include in this survey. Finally, 35 well qualified studies were selected for analysis.
Results: Analysis of the selected studies indicated that spiritual health was significantly and negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress (correlation coefficients ranging from −0.4 to −0.6), and they showed a strong positive relationship with resilience and psychological well-being (r = 0.5–0.7). These associations were more prominent among students in medical sciences programs, which generally involved larger sample sizes. Key identified challenges included heterogeneity of spiritual health measurement tools, a lack of targeted educational programs, and cultural–social barriers to addressing spirituality within academic
Conclusion: The available evidence suggests that spiritual health is not only associated with improved mental health, increased resilience and life satisfaction among students, but also contributes to enhanced academic performance and learning motivation. These findings underscore the importance of designing and implementing comprehensive educational and supportive interventions to promote spiritual health within university settings. Future research should focus on causal investigations, examination of mediating mechanisms, and the development of culturally validated instruments for assessing spiritual health.
Materials and Methods: A structured search was conducted across national and international databases using spiritual health, mental health, students, resilience, spirituality, and psychological well-being keywords. Inclusion criteria comprised studies focusing on Iranian student populations, addressing spiritual health and mental health, using articles which were published from 2015 onward, and availability in papers full text. Studies involving non-student populations and those which lack the analysis of the relationship between spiritual and mental health did not include in this survey. Finally, 35 well qualified studies were selected for analysis.
Results: Analysis of the selected studies indicated that spiritual health was significantly and negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress (correlation coefficients ranging from −0.4 to −0.6), and they showed a strong positive relationship with resilience and psychological well-being (r = 0.5–0.7). These associations were more prominent among students in medical sciences programs, which generally involved larger sample sizes. Key identified challenges included heterogeneity of spiritual health measurement tools, a lack of targeted educational programs, and cultural–social barriers to addressing spirituality within academic
Conclusion: The available evidence suggests that spiritual health is not only associated with improved mental health, increased resilience and life satisfaction among students, but also contributes to enhanced academic performance and learning motivation. These findings underscore the importance of designing and implementing comprehensive educational and supportive interventions to promote spiritual health within university settings. Future research should focus on causal investigations, examination of mediating mechanisms, and the development of culturally validated instruments for assessing spiritual health.
Type of Study: review |
Subject:
full articles
Received: 2025/09/29 | Accepted: 2026/02/1 | Published: 2026/03/10
Received: 2025/09/29 | Accepted: 2026/02/1 | Published: 2026/03/10
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