An Gratitude Programme Based on Islamic Teaching for the Well-Being of Emerging Adults

NCT07783438 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: LUC-IIGI-2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 160
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Gratitude practices have been shown to improve well-being but nearly all the programs tested so far were designed without reference to Islamic understanding. This study tests a month-long gratitude program built around the Islamic concept of shukr. Participants complete a short daily journal entry, watch a short video before each day, and attend 5 online group sessions across 4 weeks. The content covers what Shukr (Islamic gratitude) means, how it is expressed towards Allah and towards other people, and how it works during difficult times. Participants are Muslim emerging adults aged 18 to 29 from Pakistan. They are randomly assigned either to the experimental or control group. Well-being and gratitude are measured before the program, at the end of the program, and at a follow-up after three months.

Conditions

Psychological Well Being

Keywords

gratitude; shukr; Islamic Psychology; Emerging Adults; Feasibility; RCT

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Psychological Well-Being Assessed Using Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale (18-Item Version)

  Psychological well-being is assessed using the 18-item version of Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale. Items are rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (strongly agree) to 7 (strongly disagree). Items 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 17, and 18 are reverse-scored. The total score ranges from 18 to 126, with higher scores indicating greater psychological well-being. The scale assesses autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life, and self-acceptance.

  Baseline (before intervention) and immediately after the 30-day intervention and at a 3-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Gratitude Questionnaire (Six Item Form)

  Baseline (before intervention) and immediately after the 30-day intervention and at a 3-month follow-up

Study Arms (2)

Shukr Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive the Islamic integrated gratitude programme delivered over four weeks. This includes a daily journal entry guided by a workbook, alongside pre-recorded videos (before each journal day, presenting the same teaching and prompt as the journal entry), and five facilitated live online group sessions.

Behavioral: Islamic Integrated gratitude intervention

Waitlist Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants complete the same outcome measures at the same time points but receive no intervention during the study period. They are offered the full SHUKR programme after the final follow-up assessment is complete.

Interventions

Islamic Integrated gratitude intervention BEHAVIORAL

An Islamically integrated gratitude intervention delivered over four weeks, comprising daily journal prompts, pre-recorded videos, and five facilitated live online group sessions.

Also known as: Shukr

Shukr Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 29 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Muslim adults aged 18-29 years (emerging adulthood)
• Sufficient English literacy to read the workbook independently
• Reliable internet access for online group sessions
• Able to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Currently receiving treatment for a severe mental health condition
• Currently in acute crisis or experiencing active suicidal ideation
• Currently on psychiatric medication
• Bereavement within the past 6 months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lincoln University College: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD Candidate, Department of Psychology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 20, 2026
• First Posted: August 24, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2027
• Last Updated: August 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share