Spiritual Intelligence: A Scoping Review with Concept Analysis on the Key to Spiritual Care
Cristina Teixeira Pinto, Ângela Coelho, Lúcia Guedes, Rui Nunes, Sara Pinto

TL;DR
This paper reviews and defines spiritual intelligence as a key to spiritual care, highlighting its role in personal growth and health.
Contribution
The study provides an updated definition and analysis of spiritual intelligence using evolutionary and scoping review methods.
Findings
Spiritual intelligence includes adaptive cognition, higher consciousness, and personal growth.
Core attributes like equanimity and life-wisdom are crucial for spiritual care integration.
The concept positively influences health and humanitarian orientation.
Abstract
This study explores the concept of spiritual intelligence from an evolutionary perspective, providing a comprehensive and updated definition. A concept analysis was conducted following Rodgers’ Evolutionary Method, supported by a scoping review in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Studies explicitly addressing spiritual intelligence, regardless of population, setting, or discipline, were included across quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and review designs. Four databases—PsycINFO, PubMed Central, Scopus, and Web of Science—were searched for publications up to 15 December 2025, using the term “spiritual intelligence.” One-hundred-twelve articles met inclusion criteria and were analyzed through narrative synthesis and inductive analytical processing. Spiritual intelligence emerged as a construct encompassing adaptive cognition, higher consciousness, problem…
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Taxonomy
TopicsWorkplace Spirituality and Leadership · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Ego Development and Educational Practices
