The Effect of Spiritual Intelligence on Ethical Leadership with the Mediating Role of Positive Psychology and the Moderating Role of Blood Type (Case Study: School Principals in the City of Kerman)

Background and Aim: The present era clearly demonstrates the increasing importance of human capital in the success and advancement of organizations. In this period, the topic of organizational and professional ethics has become one of the key pillars in the management and activities of organizations. Ethical principles such as justice, fairness, commitment, and individual and organizational rights are regarded not only as theoretical discussions but also as practical and essential components in the decision-making processes and performance of organizations. In this regard, the aim of the present research is to examine the impact of spiritual intelligence on ethical leadership, with the mediating role of positive psychology and moderating role of blood type among school managers in Kerman city.
Methods: The present study employed a descriptive research design of a correlational type. The statistical population included all school principals in the city of Kerman (N = 567) during the 2025–2026 academic year. Based on Cochran’s formula, a sample of 229 participants was selected using stratified sampling. The research instruments included the Stevens Spiritual Intelligence Questionnaire (1996) with 24 items, the Ethical Leadership Questionnaire developed by Brown et al. (2005) with 35 items, and the Positive Psychology Questionnaire adapted from Sundar et al. (2016) with 46 items. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires were confirmed using structural equation modeling. Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling with PLS software.
Results: The results indicated that the coefficient of determination for ethical leadership was significant both in the absence and in the presence of the mediator and moderator variables. The Sobel test and path coefficients with the inclusion of the mediating variable were also significant in the relationship between spiritual intelligence and ethical leadership; therefore, positive psychology plays a mediating role in the effect of spiritual intelligence on ethical leadership. Since the effect of spiritual intelligence on ethical leadership was found to be significant both directly and indirectly through the mediating variable of positive psychology, it can be concluded that positive psychology functions as a mediator. Furthermore, the moderating effect of blood type on the relationship between spiritual intelligence and ethical leadership was not found to be significant.
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that leaders with higher levels of spiritual intelligence, by adopting positive and meaning-oriented perspectives, exhibit more stable and responsible ethical behaviors. On the other hand, the results suggest that individual biological characteristics may play a role in the manifestation of ethical leadership. Overall, these findings emphasize the necessity of simultaneously considering spiritual and psychological dimensions, as well as individual differences, in the development of ethical leadership models within organizations