Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
1. PhD student in Educational Psychology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling and Education, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3
Professor, Department of Psychology, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
4
Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical-Educational Psychology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Happiness is an important component of students’ mental health and well-being and may be influenced by cognitive and moral factors. Creative thinking and moral intelligence are among the factors whose roles in explaining students’ happiness warrant investigation, as they may contribute to a better understanding of the factors affecting psychological well-being. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop a structural model of happiness based on creative thinking, with the mediating role of moral intelligence among university students.
Methods: This correlational study employed structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of all male and female master’s students at Payame Noor University in Tehran Province during the 2024–2025 academic year. Multistage cluster sampling was used, and a sample of 230 participants was determined based on Kline’s (2015) recommendations and the latent variables included in the study. Data were collected using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire developed by Argyle (1989), the Creative Thinking Questionnaire by Welch and Dowell (2002), and the Moral Intelligence Questionnaire by Lennick and Kiel (2011). Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software.
Results: The findings indicated that the structural model of happiness based on creative thinking, with the mediating role of moral intelligence, demonstrated an acceptable fit. Creative thinking had a direct effect on students’ happiness. Furthermore, creative thinking had a significant indirect effect on students’ happiness through moral intelligence.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that strengthening creative thinking skills and fostering moral intelligence may be valuable considerations in designing educational and psychological interventions aimed at enhancing students’ happiness and well-being.
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