THE ROLE OF RELIGIOSITY IN GRATITUDE, RESILIENCE, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AMONG ADOLESCENTS
Keywords:
Religiosity, Gratitude (Shukr), Resilience, Emotional Well-Being, Adolescents, Positive Youth Development, Religious Coping, PakistanAbstract
This quantitative study examines the role of religiosity as a protective factor for emotional well-being, gratitude (Shukr), and resilience among university-going adolescents in Pakistan. Employing a correlational research design, data were collected from 220 students (Male = 96, Female = 124) using standardized measures, including the Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS), Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scale. The findings reveal that religiosity is a robust predictor of psychological strengths, demonstrating exceptionally strong positive correlations with gratitude (r = .79), resilience (r = .76), and emotional well-being (r = .74). Regression analyses further indicate that spiritual principles such as Tawakkul (divine trust), Sabr (patience), and Shukr (gratitude) function as active "psychological anchors," enabling students to maintain emotional equilibrium and effectively cope with the multifaceted challenges of academic life and sociocultural pressures. The study also highlights contextual challenges, noting that cultural taboos and service-related stigma often lead to the misinterpretation of mental health difficulties as spiritual shortcomings, creating secondary vulnerabilities among adolescents. These findings underscore the critical role of religiosity in fostering adaptive coping strategies, positive affect, and resilience within the Pakistani higher education context. The results further emphasize the importance of integrating spiritual health into university wellness programs and developing culturally sensitive interventions that recognize religiosity as a vital determinant of adolescent psychological thriving. Collectively, this study contributes to a growing body of evidence suggesting that faith-based engagement is not only a social or cultural practice but also a meaningful psychological resource for promoting well-being, emotional regulation, and adaptive functioning in youth facing academic and social stressors.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Adila Shahzadi, Amina Shakeel, Hira Siddique, Ms. Raumish Masud Khan (Author)
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