Mindfulness and Spiritual Intelligence: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background:Mindfulness and spiritual intelligence have emerged as significant psychological constructs associated with adaptive functioning and mental well-being. Although a growing body of quantitative research has examined the relationship between these constructs, the existing literature remains fragmented across populations, cultural contexts, and measurement approaches. A systematic synthesis of this evidence is therefore warranted.Methods:This systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search was carried out across PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Google Scholar to identify peer-reviewed quantitative studies published in the English language between January 2010 and December 2024. Studies published in early 2025 that were available online or indexed at the time of the search were also considered for inclusion. Eligible studies assessed both mindfulness and spiritual intelligence using validated psychometric instruments and reported quantitative statistical associations between the two constructs. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, sample features, measurement tools, and the direction and magnitude of reported associations. Given the heterogeneity in study designs and outcome measures, findings were synthesized using a narrative approach.Results:16 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies were conducted across diverse cultural and occupational contexts and predominantly employed cross-sectional or correlational designs. Across all included studies, mindfulness was positively associated with spiritual intelligence. Although the strength of the reported associations varied, the overall pattern of findings consistently indicated that higher levels of mindfulness were associated with higher levels of spiritual intelligence, regardless of population or measurement instrument.Conclusions:The available quantitative evidence indicates a consistent positive association between mindfulness and spiritual intelligence. However, significant heterogeneity in study designs, sample characteristics, and measurement tools limits direct comparability across studies. Future research would benefit from longitudinal and experimental designs, as well as greater standardization of measurement approaches, to clarify the nature and directionality of this association.