Iran Journal of Nursing

Introduction
Initially, researchers in the field of health categorized well-being into three dimensions: Physical, psychological and social. Later, following the proposals by Osman and Russell [2], a fourth dimension called “spiritual” was added to the concept of well-being. Spiritual well-being (SWB) refers to having feelings of well-being, a sense of purpose in life, connection to the universe and life satisfaction, characterized by stability, peace and harmony, as well as a sense of connection to oneself, God, others, and the environment. SWB has two aspects: Religious and existential. Religious aspect refers to the inner satisfaction and sense of fulfillment derived from a higher power, while existential aspect focuses on the pursuit of understanding one’s life purpose within the context of beliefs and norms. The key to SWB lies in individuals’ beliefs and cognitive learning, which result from their efforts to enhance their lofty ideals and achieve personal growth over time. Recognizing the importance of SWB can effectively promote individual well-being and guide overall health; neglecting this aspect may lead to the emergence or exacerbation of psychological disorders within society. 
Upon entering university, students encounter increased responsibilities and pressures, necessitating adaptability to maintain mental health and achieve academic achievement. Academic achievement refers to the ability to obtain academic knowledge and skills, have effective communication with others in the academic setting, and collaborate with other groups. Research indicates that SWB positively influences students’ academic performance by enhancing focus and motivation, ultimately leading to improved grades. Additionally, studies have shown that neglecting the aspect of SWB can negatively impact academic performance. This study aims to investigate the impact of SWB on the academic achievement of college students in Iran, by reviewing the literature. The findings may help Iranian universities in developing effective programs to enhance students’ SWB, thereby improving their academic performance and overall well-being.

Methods
This is a systematic review. To gather the necessary information, a thorough search for the related articles published in Persian or English was conducted in databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Googlecholar, Scientific Information Database (SID) and MagIran, covering the years from 2000 to 2023. Using the keywords including spiritual health, SWB, academic achievement, academic performance, students, Iran, in Persian or English. The inclusion criteria were being published in reputable scientific journals, written in Persian or English and accessible full text. There were no restrictions based on the study design for inclusion. Those with no available full text, letters to the editor, and those published in non-reputable journals were excluded.
Initially, the search yielded 168 articles, of which 30 duplicates were eliminated, remaining 98 articles that met the criteria. After further screening for relevance, 40 studies were selected for detailed examination. To ensure methodological rigor and assess the quality of the articles, three researchers with experience in systematic reviews evaluated the studies based on their titles, abstracts, introductions, methodologies, results, discussions, and references, identifying strengths and weaknesses. Finally, 13 articles were included in the review, providing a robust foundation for understanding the relationship between SWB and academic achievement among college students.

Results
Among 13 reviewed studies, 11 reported moderate levels of SWB among Iranian college students, while two studies reported a high level. Regarding the relationship between SWB and academic achievement, 10 studies found a significant positive correlation, whereas only three studies indicated no relationship between them. A study concluded that the positive effect of educational and cultural planning on individual performance enhances SWB in the community, although no significant correlation was found between SWB and average grade point. Additionally, a study on dental students discovered that the students without physical or mental health issues, particularly married ones, exhibited higher levels of SWB. Another research emphasized that improving educational conditions and fostering motivation are crucial for enhancing students’ SWB. Furthermore, a study found a positive correlation between achievement motivation and praying and suggested that policymakers in Iran should have more attention to the SWB of students to improve their academic performance. A study indicated a positive relationship between SWB and academic achievement, with no significant gender differences.

Conclusion
The majority of college students in Iran has a moderate level of SWB and there is a positive correlation between SWB and academic achievement. Given the positive role of SWB in enhancing students’ academic performance, it is recommended that officials in various academic institutions design and implement programs and interventions aimed at promoting spiritual values. In this context, conducting educational workshops focused on spirituality and its impact on various aspects of life can be helpful.

Ethical Considerations

Compliance with ethical guidelines
In this research, all studies published in various databases were carefully collected, and the researchers maintained integrity in data extraction and reporting to prevent any distortion or misuse of information. This process included assessing study quality, selecting appropriate analysis criteria, and ensuring the accuracy of extracted data.

Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Authors' contributions
Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation: Fatemeh Hosseinzadeh and Moradali Zareipour; Formal Analysis, Investigation: Nabi Akbarnejad and Esmaeil Zeynali; Resources, Writing – Original Draft, Writing – Review & Editing: Farideh Namadi, Fatemeh Hosseinzadeh and Moradali Zareipour; Visualization, Supervision, Project Administration, Funding Acquisition: Fatemeh Hosseinzadeh and Moradali Zareipour.

Conflict of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge all individuals who contributed to this research.