Effects of an Islamic-based gratitude strategy on Muslim students’ level of happiness

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effects of an Islamic-based expressive gratitude strategy in comparison to a secular-based expressive gratitude strategy and a control group in enhancing Muslims’ level of happiness. It was hypothesised that practising the Islamic-based gratitude exercise (by associating blessings with Allah) would result in higher happiness level over time, compared to the happiness level of Muslim participants practising the secular-based gratitude exercise (without specific association) or the control group (attending to details of daily life). Sixty students were randomly assigned into one of three groups and over a period of 16 days were asked to practise the respective exercises daily. They were assessed for pre- and post-happiness measures. Results generally supported the hypothesis, and suggested that the Islamic-based gratitude is beneficial in raising participants’ happiness level, as it fits with their beliefs and values. Implications of the results for including Islamic-oriented intervention to promote Muslim happiness are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Islamic-based gratitude
• secular-based gratitude
• religiosity
• Positive Psychology Intervention (PPI)
• happiness
• subjective well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCiD

Ali Youssef Al-Seheel http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9470-7685

Additional information

Funding

The article is based on the first author's MA dissertation under the supervision of the second author. The first author would like to acknowledge the financial support given to him by the Ministry of Higher Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for making his study possible.