Happiness and its correlation with spiritual well-being and attitude toward future career among medical students in Shiraz, Iran: a cross-sectional study
- 1Department of MPH, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- 2Department of Islamic Philosophy, School of Theology and Islamic studies, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
Background: The present study aimed to determine happiness and its correlation with spiritual well-being and attitude toward future career among medical students. Although previous studies have investigated happiness, spiritual well-being, or career-related attitudes separately, and a limited number have examined some of these variables together, evidence regarding their simultaneous relationships among medical students remains limited, particularly in Middle Eastern settings.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2024–2025. A total number of 394 students (238 females and 156 males) were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data collection tools were Oxford Happiness Questionnaire [35], Spiritual Well-Being Scale [37], and a questionnaire assessing students’ attitudes toward their field of study. Bivariate and multivariate analyses, including linear regression, were performed.
Results: The study results showed a positive and significant association between spiritual well-being (B = 0.166, 95% CI: 0.140–0.195, p < 0.001) and attitude toward future career (B = 0.097, 95%CI:0.053–0.142, p < 0.001) with happiness among medical students. Spiritual well-being demonstrated the strongest standardized association with happiness. Also, there was a relationship between the economic status of students (B=-1.363, 95%CI:-2.482_ -0.243, p = 0.017) and their families (B = 3.721, 95%CI:1.154_6.447, p = 0.006) with happiness. Accordingly, better economic status was associated with greater happiness.
Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, higher spiritual well-being and more positive attitudes toward future career were associated with greater happiness among medical students. These findings may help inform student support initiatives and future educational research.
Related
- Exploring overweight and obesity among Pakistani university students: a nationwide prevalence and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) assessment – a cross-sectional study
- Psychological resilience mediates links between nursing career attitude and negative emotions among eastern China nursing students in multicentre cross‑sectional research
- Assessment of Oral Hygiene Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Among Undergraduate Medical Students of Shivamogga District – A Cross-sectional Survey
- Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards the Harmful Effects of Cosmetics: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Undergraduate Female Students at Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia.
- Knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of euthanasia among medical students and doctors in Pakistan: A cross-sectional study.
BibTeX
@article{khoshkhoo2026happiness,
title = {{Happiness and its correlation with spiritual well-being and attitude toward future career among medical students in Shiraz, Iran: a cross-sectional study}},
author = {Mandana Khoshkhoo and Saeed Rahimian and Alireza Salehi},
journal = {BMC Medical Education},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12909-026-10072-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-10072-6},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Happiness and its correlation with spiritual well-being and attitude toward future career among medical students in Shiraz, Iran: a cross-sectional study
AU - Mandana Khoshkhoo
AU - Saeed Rahimian
AU - Alireza Salehi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/07
JO - BMC Medical Education
DO - 10.1186/s12909-026-10072-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-10072-6
AB - Background: The present study aimed to determine happiness and its correlation with spiritual well-being and attitude toward future career among medical students. Although previous studies have investigated happiness, spiritual well-being, or career-related attitudes separately, and a limited number have examined some of these variables together, evidence regarding their simultaneous relationships among medical students remains limited, particularly in Middle Eastern settings. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2024–2025. A total number of 394 students (238 females and 156 males) were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data collection tools were Oxford Happiness Questionnaire [35], Spiritual Well-Being Scale [37], and a questionnaire assessing students’ attitudes toward their field of study. Bivariate and multivariate analyses, including linear regression, were performed. Results: The study results showed a positive and significant association between spiritual well-being (B = 0.166, 95% CI: 0.140–0.195, p < 0.001) and attitude toward future career (B = 0.097, 95%CI:0.053–0.142, p < 0.001) with happiness among medical students. Spiritual well-being demonstrated the strongest standardized association with happiness. Also, there was a relationship between the economic status of students (B=-1.363, 95%CI:-2.482_ -0.243, p = 0.017) and their families (B = 3.721, 95%CI:1.154_6.447, p = 0.006) with happiness. Accordingly, better economic status was associated with greater happiness. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, higher spiritual well-being and more positive attitudes toward future career were associated with greater happiness among medical students. These findings may help inform student support initiatives and future educational research.
SN - 1472-6920
ER -