Introduction: Positive psychology and religious faiths both seek to promote human flourishing through the cultivation of positive virtues. Despite India's rich religious diversity, few studies have explored the how positive psychological strengths contribute to flourishing. Spiritual intelligence, the cognitive capacity to engage with transcendent and non-material dimensions, is recognized as a protective factor enhancing psychological well-being across contexts.


Purpose: Prior research highlights Psychological Capital (PsyCap) as a key mediator in fostering flourishing, particularly in workplace and educational contexts. Its role as a positive resource within religious context, however remains underexplored. This study investigates the mediating effect of PsyCap on the relationship between spiritual intelligence and flourishing among a multireligious sample from South India. Drawing on the Conservation of Resources (COR) framework, PsyCap is conceptualized as a positive resource that bridges spiritual intelligence and flourishing. Additionally, the study examines cross-religious variations in these relationships.


Method: A correlational research design was employed using the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory-24 (SISRI-24), the Psychological Capital Questionnaire-12 (PCQ-12), and the PERMA profiler to address the study objectives. Data were collected via snowball sampling from South Indian Christians (n= 135), Hindus (n= 130), and Muslims (n= 127) resulting in a combined sample of N= 392.


Results and Conclusions: PsyCap partially mediated the relationship between spiritual intelligence and flourishing, showing a strong positive effect. This highlights its value as a resource for enhancing well-being among religious individuals and suggests potential for PsyCap-based interventions, as well as future longitudinal and experimental studies in Indian religious contexts.