Spiritual Intelligence and Psychological Distress during Covid-19 Pandemic in Adults of Pakistan

Abstract

Amid COVID 19 it was planned to examine the presence of psychological distress including anxiety, depression, and stress, and its relationship with Spiritual Intelligence in Adults of Pakistan. A novel and an uncertain situation like COVID-19 that carries a burden on health, finance, industry, education, and nearly all spheres of life could rise psychological distress. Measuring its intensity and valence could be helpful in its intervention. It was a correlational study with a cross-sectional research design. A non-probability convenient sample of two hundred participants with the age range of 18 to 55 years (M=25.5 SD= 5.56) completed the online google survey. Depression, Anxiety, Stress -21 scale (DASS), and Spiritual Intelligence Self-Inventory was used to collect data. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship (.851**, .802** p< 0.001) between depression, anxiety, and stress. Moreover, no significant relationship could be found between spiritual intelligence and psychological distress. Significant gender differences were found for depression and anxiety as men reported more depression and anxiety. General population is experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress due to the COVID- 19 though no relationship exists between psychological distress and spiritual intelligence within the present sample. Psychological intervention should be the part of usual regime to cater to COVID-19 and related diseases.