Abstract

• The main purpose of this study was to investigate spiritual intelligence and optimism of teachers from Yamethin District. Descriptive survey method and quantitative research design were used in this study. The specific objectives were to explore the differences between spiritual intelligence and optimism of teachers by gender, age group, and work experience and to investigate the relationship between spiritual intelligence and optimism of teachers. A total of 941 (male = 427, female = 514) teachers were chosen from Yamethin District. As the instruments, the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24) (King, 2008) and Optimism/ Pessimism Instrument (OPI) (Dember, et. al., 1989) were used respectively. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients of SISRI-24 and OPI were .842 and .872 respectively. According to the result, spiritual intelligence of male teachers was higher than that of female teachers. Furthermore, it was found that there was no significant difference in spiritual intelligence by age group. Moreover, it was found that there was a significant difference in spiritual intelligence by work experience. Teachers who had work experience 1-15 years were higher in spiritual intelligence than that of 16-25 years. According to result, optimism of male teachers was higher than that of female teachers. Then, ANOVA result showed that there was no significant difference in optimism by age group. Moreover, it was found that there was significant difference in optimism by work experience. Teachers who had work experience 26 years and above were higher in optimism than that of 16-25 years. Finally, there was statistically significant positive correlation in spiritual intelligence and optimism of teachers (r =.445, p<.01). Furthermore, the regression analysis result indicated that the spiritual intelligence could explain 20% of optimism.