Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Spirituality Research in Health Sciences 3041-8569 3 1 2025 09 15 The mediating role of perceived competence in the relationship between spiritual well-being and mental health among adolescents in hashtrud 65 74 10.34172/srhs.2025.006 EN Mahmoudi Nahideh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4582-9176 Malihe Pourali Vakili Miandoab https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9092-8909 Journal Article 10.34172/srhs.2025.006 2026 05 06 2026 05 09 Background. Adolescent mental health is a fundamental aspect of overall well-being, influenced by multiple individual, social, and spiritual factors. Spiritual well-being has been shown to act as a psychological resilience factor, while perceived competence contributes to adaptive functioning in response to developmental challenges. The mediating role of perceived competence in the association between spiritual well-being and mental health, however, remains underexplored. Methods. This descriptive-correlational study investigated the mediating role of perceived competence in the relationship between spiritual well-being and mental health among 120 female high school students (grades 11 and 12) in Hashtrud, selected via multi-stage cluster sampling. Participants completed the Perceived Competence Scale (Harter, 1988), the General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg & Miller, 1972), and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (Paloutzian & Ellison, 1982). Data were analyzed using simple and multiple regression analyses, with mediation tested through the Sobel test. Results. Significant positive correlations were observed among spiritual well-being, perceived competence, and mental health. Spiritual well-being alone explained 66% of the variance in mental health. In the combined regression model, spiritual well-being (β = 0.47) and perceived competence (β = 0.22) were significant predictors. Sobel test results indicated that perceived competence partially mediated the relationship between spiritual well-being and mental health. Conclusion. Spiritual well-being influences adolescent mental health both directly and indirectly through the partial mediation of perceived competence. These findings highlight the importance of interventions aimed at enhancing spiritual well-being and perceived competence to support and improve mental health in adolescents.