Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics

Farhad Khormaei1 , Maryam Ghaemi1 , Parvin Yadollahi2*
1. Department of Educational Psychology, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran.
2. Department of Midwifery, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
* Corresponding Author:
Parvin Yadollahi, PhD.
Address: Department of Midwifery, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences,
Shiraz, Iran.
Phone: +98 (917)3025984
E-mail: yadollahi-556@yahoo.com
Research Paper:
The Structural Model of Militancy/Peacefulness
Morality Association With Psychological Wellbeing
Background and Objectives: People are always looking for new ways to achieve a good
and healthy life. They associate such a life with wellbeing and happiness. The World Health
Organization defines health as a form of wellbeing, in which each person identifies his or her
abilities and plays a role in society effectively. Many studies have shown the correlation between
moral virtues and psychological wellbeing. This research aims to study the role of militancy/
peacefulness morality in predicting psychological wellbeing among university students.
Methods: This research was a correlational study. The sample size was calculated based on
Kline guideline. We included in our study 530 (226 males and 304 females) undergraduate
students in humanities, engineering, basic sciences, art, and architecture. They were selected
by random cluster sampling method from different faculties of Shiraz University, Shiraz City,
Iran, from January to September 2019. Then, they responded to Ryff’s psychological wellbeing
scale and researcher-made militancy/peacefulness scale. The obtained data were analyzed using
structural equation modeling in AMOS software.
Results: Their Mean±SD total scores of wellbeing and militancy were 21.62±4.54 and
52.75±10.15, respectively. The results of analytical statistics showed that militancy/peacefulness
(such as hatred, mischief, slander, and stupidity) is a negative predictor of psychological wellbeing.
The obtained results of this analysis also showed that the final model of the study has good fitness.
Conclusion: Considering the findings of this study, we recommend teaching peaceful behaviors
in universities by using educational workshops in the field of moral virtue.
A B S T R A C T
Keywords:
Psychological wellbeing,
Morality, Mental health
Please cite this article as Khormaei F, Ghaemi M, Yadollahi P. The Structural Model of Militancy/Peacefulness Morality
Association With Psychological Wellbeing. Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics Journal. 2021; 8(3):149-154. http://dx.doi.
org/10.32598/hsmej.8.3.2
: http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/hsmej.8.3.2
Use your device to scan
and read the article online
Article info:
Received: 10 Apr 2021
Accepted: 25 Jul 2021
Publish: 01 Sep 2021
150
September 2021. Volume 8. Number 3
Introduction
he most important goal of human
knowledge in the field of humanities
is helping people to have a better life.
By proposing numerous theories, psychologists
and sociologists have sought
to develop proper mechanisms for assisting people to acquire
calmness and avoid affliction [1]. Deci and Rayan
defined wellbeing as the result of two approaches of
hedonism and eudemonism. They explained wellbeing
from two different viewpoints. The first one is based on
hedonism, in which wellbeing is synonymous with positive
emotions affluence on negative emotions and life
satisfaction that is called hedonic wellbeing. However,
eudemonism considers wellbeing comprehensively. According
to this view, wellbeing refers to living based on
the original goals, flourishing the talents, finding meaning
in life, and struggling continuously for personal and
moral growth [2].
Ryff, as one of the influential people in the field of
psychological wellbeing, proposed the model of psychological
wellbeing or positive mental health. This model
is widely noticed in the world [3]. In this attitude, wellbeing
means the effort for promotion, shown in the transcendence
of a person’s talents and abilities [4]. According
to Ryff, psychological wellbeing is trying to flourish
in intrinsic human abilities. Many factors have adverse
effects on wellbeing. These factors include aggression,
hostility, and pugnacity. The people with high hostility
are not usually aggressive, and they do not even expect
this behavior from others. Such persons are more likely
to react to failures and unpleasant discomforts. Failure is
a kind of mental feeling created when the person is not
allowed to achieve a goal. Hostile people become angry
quickly, even with small failures. In such situations, they
might get sad. They may become even impolite, uncooperative,
hostile, and pugnacious [5].
Many studies have shown that hostility is a strong predictor
for cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases [6,
7]. So, it can threaten health and wellbeing. The ethical
traits have been discussed in the references of Islamic
moralities (such as Kimiya-e-Sadat, Akhlagh-e-Naseri,
and Meraj-al-Sadah). Most philosophers consider moral
traits as sustainable and firm features that can be both
primary and secondary traits of a person, originating
from repetition and practice [8]. These sustainable traits
lead to appropriate behavior [9]. Generally, a moral trait
is stated as the tendency and preparedness of a person
for thinking, feeling, and behaving morally [10]. Thus,
moral traits have positive and negative effects on ethical
behavior. Militancy is the opposite of peacefulness. It
consists of moral traits, which are manifested as aggression
[11]. Some studies found aggression as a negative
moral trait affecting wellbeing. Lombas et al. reported
a negative correlation between psychological wellbeing
and aggression [12]. Costa and McCarey said that despite
militancy, agreeableness is related to social behavior.
Also, wellbeing and neuroticism have a strong negative
correlation with five personality factors [13]. Haren
and Mitchell showed in their study that highly neurotic
people, in stressful situations, use passive strategies such
as avoidance, self-blaming, ambitious thinking, mental
rumination, and methods based on interpersonal hostility
such as hostile reaction and emotional release. These
strategies lead to negative emotions and reduction of
wellbeing in people [14]. Since militancy/peacefulness
is a new perspective for investigating one of the essential
traits of a human being and there are not enough studies
in this regard, the current research has investigated
the role of militancy/peacefulness morality in predicting
psychological wellbeing among students.
Methods
This correlational research was performed using structural
equation modeling. The research population included
the bachelor students of Shiraz University, Shiraz
City, Iran, from January to September 2019. The sample
size was calculated based on Kline guideline. He indicated
that 10 to 20 participants per estimated parameter
would make a sufficient sample [15]. Therefore, the participants
in this study consisted of 530 bachelor students
(226 boys and 304 girls) in humanities, engineering,
basic sciences, art, and architecture. They were selected
through the random cluster sampling method. First, 22
classes were randomly chosen out of 9 faculties of Shiraz
University, and all students in the classes participated
in the study. The inclusion criteria were undergraduate
students, lacking physical and psychological diseases,
and not using psychiatric drugs. The exclusion criterion
was the incomplete completion of the questionnaire. It is
worth noting that before the study, the informed consent
form was completed by the respondents, and they were
assured of the confidentiality of their responses. This research
project used the following instruments.
Militancy/peacefulness scale
This researcher-made scale was developed after
searching the literature in Islamic moral texts. This scale
includes 19 items, scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale
from absolutely correct (score 5) to absolutely incorrect
(score 1). The validity of this scale was assessed by con-
T
Khormaei et al. Militancy/Peacefulness Morality and Psychological Wellbeing. Health Spiritual Med Ethics J. 2021; 8(3):149-154
151
September 2021. Volume 8. Number 3
struct validity. The factor analysis results through principal
components or varimax rotation confirmed the existence
of hatred, mischief, slander, and stupidity in this
scale. To check the reliability of the scale, the Cronbach
α value was used. Its coefficients for the whole scale
were 0.83 and for the components of hatred with 6 items
0.68, sadomasochism with 6 items 0.74, defamation with
4 items 0.63, and stupidity with 3 items 0.52.
The scale of psychological wellbeing
In this study, to evaluate psychological wellbeing,
we used 18 questions from the Scale of Psychological
Wellbeing (SPWB) of Ryff. This inventory is scored
on a 5-point Likert scale (from absolutely disagree to
absolutely agree). Ryff’s wellbeing has 6 main factors,
and each one is expressed in 3 items: self-acceptance
(having a self-positive attitude), positive relations with
others (making a warm and intimate relationship with
others and the ability of sympathy), autonomy (the sense
of independence and the ability of resistance against
social pressures), purposeful life (having a goal in life
and realizing it), personal growth (the sense of continues
feeling), and environment mastery (the ability of a
person for managing the environment) [16]. Marhamati
and Yousefi showed that the validity and reliability of
this scale are acceptable. The internal consistency of the
subscale ranges from 0.79 to 0.82, and the Cronbach α
coefficient is 0.72 for the total score of scale [17].
The predictor variable in this study is militancy/peacefulness,
and criterion one is psychological wellbeing. To
analyze data, we used the indicators of descriptive statistics
of mean, standard deviation, and the Pearson correlation
coefficient. For inferential analysis of data, we used
structural equation modeling in AMOS v. 22 software.
Results
The current study’s findings are presented in two sections
of descriptive data, and the path analysis obtained
data. Descriptive findings of mean, standard deviation,
and correlation matrix of militancy/peacefulness and
psychological wellbeing are presented in Tables 1 and
2. According to Table 2, the total score of militancy has
a negative and significant correlation with wellbeing
(P=0.006, r=0.27). Mischief has the strongest correlations
with wellbeing (r=-0.31, P=0.008) then hatred (r=-
0.24, P=0.005) and slander (r=-0.15, P=0.004).
To investigate the predictive role of militancy/peacefulness
in wellbeing, structural equation modeling was
used, in which wellbeing was the endogenous covert
variable and militancy/ peacefulness with four indicators
of hatred, mischief, slander, and stupidity was the
exogenous covert variable. The final model of the study
is shown in Figure 1.
The results showed that the related path coefficients
to the measurement model of covert structures are high.
The order of coefficients in the model for the components
of aggression was between 0.41 and 0.76 and for
wellbeing between 0.44 and 0.61. All path coefficients
were also significant. Figure 1 shows the effects (coefficient
β) of militancy on wellbeing. According to the
results, militancy is the negative predictor of wellbeing
(β=-0.32, P=0.006). The obtained results of this analysis
also showed that the final model of the study has good
fitness. The value of CMIN/DF (Chi-square index nor-
Figure 1. The structural model of the correlation between militancy/peacefulness and wellbeing
Khormaei et al. Militancy/Peacefulness Morality and Psychological Wellbeing. Health Spiritual Med Ethics J. 2021; 8(3):149-154
152
September 2021. Volume 8. Number 3
malized to the degree of freedom) is equal to 2.66, the
value of GFI (goodness of fit index) is equal to 0.98,
the value of RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation)
is equal to 0.04, and the value of PCLOSE
(probability of close fit) is equal to 0.59. Therefore, the
calculated indices values are in the acceptable range.
Discussion
This study aimed to investigate the role of militancy/
peacefulness in predicting psychological wellbeing. To
achieve this goal, 530 bachelor students of Shiraz University
were selected, and they were asked to respond to
the research tools. The results indicated that militancy/
peacefulness predicts psychological wellbeing negatively.
These results are consistent with the theoretical studies
of Lombas et al. [12], Taghvaeinia and Mirzaei [17], and
Aghababaei [18]. To explain the negative correlation between
pugnacity and wellbeing, we should consider that
the infrastructure of aggression is hostility and conflict
with others. Aggression is its behavioral manifestation
and is identified with the components of hatred, mischief,
slander, and stupidity. However, psychological wellbeing
is identified with the factors of self-acceptance, positive
relationships with others, autonomy, purposeful life, personal
growth, and environmental mastery.
In the research model, hatred and hostility are essential
indicators of aggression in reducing wellbeing. This
finding is consistent with the studies which consider hostility
as a powerful predictor for health. Accordingly,
Larsen and Bass stated that highly hostile people get angry
and emotional arousal with small failures [5]. They
are vindictive and revengeful. There is a network of negative
and unpleasant thoughts about others around them.
Therefore, such traits in a hostile person can have a negative
relation with life satisfaction as the most important
index of wellbeing. The affluence of positive emotions
on negative ones is another component of wellbeing
[19]. People who hate others highly and feel mentally
hostile with them have a psychological mood that leads
to negative emotional arousal. So, this trait also has a
negative correlation with wellbeing [20].
Mischief is the second strong component of aggression.
It can sometimes be self-directed. The person con-
Table 1. Related descriptive statistics to research variables
Component Mean±SD Minimum Maximum
Hatred 16.99±3.86 7 29
Mischief 14.59±4.26 6 29
Slander 11.96±2.91 4 20
Stupidity 9.20±2.55 3 15
Total score of militancy 52.75±10.15 26 82
Total score of wellbeing 21.62±4.54 7 30
Table 2. Correlation between research variables
Component 1 2 3 4 5 6
Hatred 1
Mischief 0.56** 1
Slander 0.41** 0.31** 1
Stupidity 0.27** 0.36** 0.36** 1
Total score of wellbeing -0.24** -0.31** -0.15 -0.01 1
Total score of militancy 0.80** 0.81** 0.67** 0.61** -0.27** 1
** P<0.01.
Khormaei et al. Militancy/Peacefulness Morality and Psychological Wellbeing. Health Spiritual Med Ethics J. 2021; 8(3):149-154
153
September 2021. Volume 8. Number 3
tinuously bothers himself with inefficient self-aggressive
thoughts. Mischief sometimes emerges as bothering others
and sadistic behaviors. This mischief is very similar
to physical aggression and is the opposite of warm and
intimate correlation with others and the ability of sympathy
with them in wellbeing. World Health Organization
defines health as the mood of wellbeing; accordingly,
people identify their ability and can effectively play a
role in society [21]. This definition negatively correlates
with the behavior of annoying people who cannot find
a good connection with the people of their society and
do not usually have desired psychological performance.
Slander is the third component of militancy. Slander
emerges as hidden gossip, accusation, and lying. A
kind of hostility is hidden in this behavior. These people
show their hostility by lying about others and slandering
them, through which they cover their disability. Deci
and Rayan define wellbeing as living based on original
goals, flourishing talents, finding the meaning of life,
and continuing the effort for personal and moral growth
[2]. Moreover, Ryff believed that wellbeing realizes the
talents and abilities of a person [16]. If slander, disgust,
and lack of individual abilities to cope with problems are
considered the infrastructure of defamation, it is the opposite
of wellbeing, referring to flourishing the abilities.
Therefore, the negative relation between militancy and
wellbeing can be explained.
Stupidity is the other component of aggression. It is
identified with ridiculing others, talking to them ironically,
dirty jokes, and ignoring the moralities in the community.
Instead of face-to-face encountering, such people
show their hostility by ironic words and scumbag and
induce a kind of ignorance to others while this feature is
also based on disability and low self-esteem. These beliefs
are linked with a network of negative emotions, and
when there is an affluence of negative emotions on positive
ones, wellbeing is being threatened [4]. Therefore,
the negative relation between militancy and wellbeing
can be explained.
The strength of this study was the definition of militancy/
peacefulness as a new construct in the field of moral
traits and assessment of its relationship with wellbeing.
The limitation of the present study was the absence of a
literature review because of idea novelty.
Conclusion
The findings of this study supported that hatred, mischief,
slander, and stupidity are essential components
of militancy that affect psychological wellbeing. So,
teaching pacifism indicators which are the opposite of
aggression components, can positively impact people’s
psychological wellbeing. To improve the mental health
and psychological wellbeing of the community, training
courses in this field are recommended to be provided and
implemented as training packages in target groups such
as school and university students. Also, research about
the effect of this training is recommended.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
The participants were informed of the purpose of the
research and its implementation stages. A written consent
has been obtained from the subjects.
Funding
This research did not receive any grant from funding
agencies in the public, commercial, or non-profit sectors
Authors' contributions
Conceptualization and Supervision: Farhad Khormaei;
Methodology: Maryam Ghaemi; Investigation, Writing
– original draft, and Writing – review & editing: All
authors; Data collection: Farhad Khormaei, Maryam
Ghaemi, and Parvin Yadollahi; Data analysis: Farhad
Khormaei and Parvin Yadollahi; Funding acquisition
and Resources: Farhad Khormaei, Parvin yadollahi and
Maryam Ghaemi .
Conflict of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
Hereby, we appreciate Shiraz University for its cooperation
in conducting this study and the students of this
university for their patience in completing the research
questionnaires.
References
[1] Marhamati Z, Khormaei F. [An investigation of the effect of
religiousness, patience, and hope on eudaimonic well-being
(Persian)]. Biannual J Islam Psychol. 2017; 2(5):34-66. http://
psychology.riqh.ac.ir/article_12753.html?lang=fa
Khormaei et al. Militancy/Peacefulness Morality and Psychological Wellbeing. Health Spiritual Med Ethics J. 2021; 8(3):149-154
154
September 2021. Volume 8. Number 3
[2] Deci EL, Ryan RM. Hedonic, eudemonia, and well-being: An
introduction. J Happiness Stud. 2008; 9(1):1-11. [DOI:10.1007/
s10902-006-9018-1]
[3] Cheng ST, Chan ACM. Measuring psychological wellbeing
in the Chinese. Pers Individ Dif. 2005; 38(6):1307-16.
[DOI:10.1016/j.paid.2004.08.013]
[4] Ryff CD. Psychological wellbeing in adult life. Curr Dir
Psychol Sci. 1995; 4(4):99-104. [DOI:10.1111/1467-8721.
ep10772395]
[5] Larsen RJ, Buss DM, Wismeijer A, Song J, van den Berg S.
Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human
nature. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2017. https://
www.google.com/books/edition/Personality_=en
[6] Wiebe DJ, SmithTW. Personality and health: Progress and
problems in psychosomatics. In: Hogan R, Johnson JA, Briggs
SR, editors. Handbook of personality psychology. Massachusetts:
Academic Press; 1997. p. 891-918. [DOI:10.1016/B978-
012134645-4/50035-4]
[7] Surtees P, wainwtight N, Khaw KT, Luben R, Brayne C, Day
N. inflammatory disposition: A population –based study of
the association between hostility and peripheral Leukocyte
count. Pers Individ Dif. 2003; 35(6):1271-84. [DOI:10.1016/
S0191-8869(02)00347-1]
[8] Rabbani M, Khormaei F. Comparison of spirituality dimensions
among opioid-dependent, methamphetamine dependent,
and normal people. Health Spiritual Med Ethics. 2017;
4(3):27-31. http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-1-98-fa.html
[9] Khormaei F, Farmani A. [Surveying the role of big five personality
factors in prediction of patience and its components
in students (Persian)]. Clin Psychol Pers. 2014; 12(2):11-24.
http://cpap.shahed.ac.ir/article_2714.html?lang=fa
[10] Chen TR, Morse L. Moral character: What it is and what
it is does. Res Organ Behav. 2014; 34:43-61. [DOI:10.1016/j.
riob.2014.08.003]
[11] Craheh B. The social psychology of aggression [MH. Nazarinejad,
Persian trans]. Tehran: Roshd Publication; 2012.
http://opac.nlai.ir/opac-prod/search/briefListSearch.
[12] Lombas AS, Jiménez TI , Arguís-Rey R, Hernández-
Paniello S, Valdivia-Salas S, Martín-Albo J. Impact of the
happy classrooms programme on psychological well-being,
school aggression, and classroom climate. Mindfulness. 2019;
10(8):1642-60. [DOI:10.1007/s12671-019-01132-8]
[13] McCrae RR, Costa PT. Validation of the five-factor model
of personality across instruments and observers. J Pers Soc
Psychol. 1987; 52(1):81-90. [DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.52.1.81]
[14] Haren EG, Mitchell CW. Relationships between the
Five-Factor Personality Model and coping styles. Psychol
Educ. 2003; 40(1):38-49. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/
2003-03512-010
[15] Kline RB. Principles and practice of structural equation modeling,
Fourth Edition. New York: Guilford Publications; 2015.
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Principles_and_
[16] Ryff CD, Singer BH. Best news yet on the six-factor model
of wellbeing. Soc Sci Res. 2006; 35(4):1103-19. [DOI:10.1016/j.
ssresearch.2006.01.002]
[17] Taghvaininia A, Mirzaei A. [Relationship between personality
traits and psychological well-being with respect to
the mediating role of forgiveness (Persian)]. Armaghan-e-
Danesh. 2017; 22(4):529-41. http://armaghanj.yums.ac.ir/
article-1-1790-fa.html
[18] Aghababaei N. [The relation of honesty and modesty with
personality, religion and subjective wellbeing (Persian)]. Ravanshenasi-
va Din. 2012; 5(3):25-40. https://www.sid.ir/fa/
journal/ViewPaper.aspx?ID=239848
[19] Marhemati Z, Khormaei F. Explaining eudaimonic wellbeing:
The role of religiousness and patience. Health Spiritual
Med Ethics. 2017; 4(4):24-30. http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-
1-129-en.html
[20] Ghorbani R, Khormaei F. Relationship between Big Five
Personality Traits and Virtue of Wisdom: The Mediating
Role of Patience. Health Spiritual Med Ethics. 2019; 6(1):11-7.
http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-1-229-en.html
[21] Rashid T. Positive psychotherapy: A strength-based approach.
J Positive Psychol. 2015; 10(1):25-40. https://doi.org
/10.1080/17439760.2014.920411.
Khormaei et al. Militancy/Peacefulness Morality and Psychological Wellbeing. Health Spiritual Med Ethics J. 2021; 8(3):149-154