J Relig Health. 2026 Feb 12. doi: 10.1007/s10943-026-02578-6. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Chronic diseases impose substantial suffering that often exceeds individuals’ capacity to maintain effective coping. Spiritual intelligence (SI) may play an integral role in shaping patients’ responses to chronic diseases and in their ability to adopt adaptive coping strategies. This study assessed the association between SI and coping strategies among a convenience sample of 185 adult patients with chronic diseases. A descriptive design was used, and participants completed the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24) and the Brief-COPE. The overall level of SI was moderate. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between SI and both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. Sociodemographic factors explained approximately 11.2% of the variance in SI. Patients with higher SI appear more capable of selecting adaptive coping strategies when dealing with chronic conditions.
PMID:41678020 | DOI:10.1007/s10943-026-02578-6
