Effect of Spiritual Intelligence Training on the Anxiety of Medical Sciences Students; a Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Aims: Anxiety among medical students is a major psychological problem and in the newest meta-analysis, its global prevalence rate is estimated to be 33.8%. Accordingly and since spiritual intelligence training can affect to resolve fundamental issues and enhance individuals’ adaptability, therefore the aim of this study was to determine the effect of spiritual intelligence training on the anxiety of medical sciences students. Materials Methods: In this randomized clinical trial in 2016, 50 students from Yasuj and Larestan Universities of medical sciences-Iran were selected using purposive sampling method and divided into intervention and control groups with the equal members through random block allocation of 4. While the control group did not receive any intervention, the spiritual intelligence training accomplished for the intervention group. At the beginning of the study and one month after intervention, the trait and state anxiety of students were measured using Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software, through Chi-square test, independent t-test, and paired t-test. Findings: At the beginning of the study, there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups regarding the amount of the trait and state anxiety (p 0.05). One month after the intervention, the amount of the trait and state anxiety in the intervention group was significantly less than these amounts in the control group, as well compared to these amounts at the beginning of the study (p 0.05). Conclusion: The spiritual intelligence training causes a decrease in the trait and state anxiety of medical sciences students.