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The Relationship Between Openness (Forgiveness, Patience, and Tolerance) and Students’ Interpersonal Relationships: The Mediating Role of Positive Academic Emotions
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Farhad Khormaei *1    , Reihane Arabi Ganje2 , Kimia Sahraian3 |
1- University of Shiraz , khormaei@shirazu.ac.ir
2- University of Shiraz
3- Higher Education Center of Eghlid |
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Abstract: (16 Views) |
Introduction: Given the decisive role of interpersonal relationships in students’ adjustment to the university settings, and the potential importance of character traits and positive emotions in stabilizing such relationships, the present study aimed to examine the mediating role of positive academic emotions in the relationship between openness—conceptualized here as forgiveness, patience, and tolerance—and students’ interpersonal relationships.
Method: This was a correlational study based on structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of all undergraduate and master’s students at Shiraz University during the 2021–2022 academic year. A sample of 354 students was selected through multistage cluster random sampling. Data were collected using the Character Traits Questionnaire (Khormaei et al., 2020), the Interpersonal Relationship Questionnaire (Matson, 1986), and the Academic Emotions Questionnaire (Pekrun et al., 2002). Data were analyzed through SEM using SPSS Version 24 and AMOS Version 23.
Findings: The findings showed that openness had a direct positive effect on interpersonal relationships, β = .26, p < .001, and on positive academic emotions, β = .23, p < .001. Positive academic emotions also had a direct positive effect on interpersonal relationships, β = .63, p < .001. In addition, the indirect effect of openness on interpersonal relationships through positive academic emotions was significant, β = .15, p < .001. The final model explained 54% of the variance in interpersonal relationships.
Conclusion: The results indicated that openness, in addition to its direct effect, contributes to improved students’ interpersonal relationships by increasing positive academic emotions—namely, enjoyment, hope, and pride. These findings underscore the need to design and implement educational and counseling interventions to cultivate character virtues and enhance positive academic emotions in university settings. |
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| Keywords: openness, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, interpersonal relationships, positive academic emotions, university students. |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special- quantitative
Received: 2026/02/4 | Revised: 2026/06/22 | Accepted: 2026/03/5 | ePublished ahead of print: 2026/03/27 | Published: 2026/03/28 | ePublished: 2026/03/28
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