Development and validation of the Islamic-Iranian gratitude questionnaire (IIGQ) in Iranian undergraduate students

The objective was to develop and validate an Islamic-Iranian Gratitude Scale (IIGS) on the basis of an Islamic framework in Iranian culture. We designed this scale specifically to reflect the nature of gratitude according to Quran and Sonat. Two hundred and eighty university students were selected from four dormitory buildings via simple random sampling on June 2011-2012 academic year in order to be participated in the validation phase. In order to determine the structure validity of the scale, explanatory factor analysis was used. Thereafter the analysis of rotated main components was used. In consequence of factor analysis, from a total of 50 items, 24 items were omitted and 26 items remained in the scale. Finally, three factors were extracted (moral, internal, operational subscales). Divergent and Convergent validity with Beck Depression and Islamic attitude questionnaires were also shown to be satisfactory (r=0.67, P<0.001, r=0.57, P<0.001 respectively). The IIGI and its subscales had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient for all 26 items=0.87). The IIGI is a brief, valid, reliable and feasible measure of gratitude for use in the Iranian Islamic culture.