The relationship between moral disengagement and spiritual wellbeing in the students of Tehran universities with the mediating role of positive and negative affects

Background: Spiritual well-being is the fundamental dimension of health that integrates the other dimensions (physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual) and is dynamically reflected in four domains of self, others, environment, and a superior being. The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of positive and negative affects in the relationships of moral disengagement and spiritual well-being in university students in Tehran. Methods: The statistical population of this descriptive correlational study comprised all students of universities in Tehran in the academic year ۲۰۲۰-۲۰۲۱. A sample of ۳۰۱ students (۱۹۹ females and ۱۰۲ males) was selected via convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Spiritual Well Being Scale (SWBS), the Moral Disengagement Questionnaire, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Data were analyzed by the Pearson correlation method and path analysis. Results: There was a significant correlation between the components of moral disengagement, positive and negative affects, and the components of spiritual well-being (P<۰.۰۰۱). The findings revealed that the path between negative affects and spiritual well-being was significant and negative, and that between positive affects and spiritual well-being was significant and positive (P<۰.۰۰۱). The total path coefficient between moral disengagement and spiritual wellbeing was significant and negative, and the indirect path coefficient between moral disengagement and spiritual well-being was significant and negative (P<۰.۰۰۱). Positive and negative affects, therefore, significantly and negatively mediate the relationship between moral disengagement and spiritual well-being (P<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: According to the results, spiritual well-being can thus be promoted through training to prevent moral disengagement both directly and as mediated by positive and negative affects.