Structural Model of Workplace Spirituality Based on Spiritual Health, Meaning in Life, and Self-Differentiation with the Mediating Roles of Job Crafting and Moral Identity among Faculty Members of Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch

Parvin Shiri Ghidari; Afsaneh Sobhi; Qamar Kiani

Authors

Parvin Shiri Ghidari Department of Psychology, , Za.C, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8698-6031
Afsaneh Sobhi Department of Psychology, , Za.C, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran. Corresponding Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6797-633X
Qamar Kiani Department of Psychology, , Za.C, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1885-4701

Keywords:

Workplace spirituality, Spiritual health, Meaning in life, Self-differentiation, Job crafting, Moral identity

Abstract

The present study aimed to develop a structural model of workplace spirituality based on spiritual health, meaning in life, and self-differentiation, with the mediating roles of job crafting and moral identity among faculty members of Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch. This research was applied in terms of purpose and correlational in terms of nature and method, utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised all faculty members of Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch, during the academic year 2025–2026, totaling 476 individuals, from which 300 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires including the Workplace Spirituality Questionnaire (Milliman et al., 2003), Spiritual Well-Being Scale (Paloutzian & Ellison, 1982), Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger et al., 2006), Differentiation of Self Inventory (Skowron, 2000), Job Crafting Questionnaire (Laurence, 2010), and Moral Identity Questionnaire (Aquino & Reed, 2002). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 28 and AMOS version 24, employing Pearson correlation tests and structural equation modeling. The findings indicated that the proposed model demonstrated a good fit (RMSEA = 0.054, CFI = 0.90, GFI = 0.90, AGFI = 0.91, IFI = 0.94). Examination of direct effects revealed that all paths were statistically significant (p < 0.05), except for the effect of self-differentiation on workplace spirituality (p = 0.873) and the effect of meaning in life on moral identity (p = 0.086). Furthermore, the indirect effects of spiritual health (β = 0.146, p = 0.002), meaning in life (β = 0.209, p < 0.001), and self-differentiation (β = 0.174, p < 0.001) on workplace spirituality through job crafting, as well as the indirect effects of spiritual health (β = 0.206, p < 0.001) and self-differentiation (β = 0.206, p < 0.001) on workplace spirituality through moral identity, were all confirmed. Based on the findings, spiritual health, meaning in life, and self-differentiation directly and indirectly influence workplace spirituality through the mediating roles of job crafting and moral identity. Therefore, simultaneous attention to enhancing these constructs through intervention and professional development programs can facilitate the promotion of workplace spirituality in academic environments.

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