Life satisfaction as a mediating variable for the effect of gratitude on happiness among university students: A study using structural modeling

            Gratitude is considered the moral memory of mankind and is termed the godfather of all virtues. The present study aimed at identifying the differences in gratitude, happiness and satisfaction with life by gender (males vs. females) and nationality (Egyptian vs. Saudi), and testing the predictability of happiness and satisfaction with life through students’ scores on the Gratitude Questionnaire. The study also aimed at reaching a structural model of the relationships between gratitude, satisfaction with life and happiness. The main study sample involved 400 students (105 males and 295 females). 250 of the subjects were Egyptians and 150 were Saudis. The study tools included the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6) (translated by the researcher), Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) (translated by the researcher), and the Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire (translated by the researcher). In this study the researcher used IBM SPSS V26 and Amos V26. The results of the study indicated that there are no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the students on the Gratitude Questionnaire, Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and the Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire according to gender. The results of the study also indicated that there are no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the students on the Gratitude Questionnaire, Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and the Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire according to nationality (Egyptian vs. Saudi). Results also indicated that there are statistically significant differences (p = 0.05) between the mean scores of the students on the Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire according to nationality in favor of Egyptian students. Moreover, the results of the study indicated that there are no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the students on Oxford Happiness Questionnaire according to nationality. The results of the study also indicated that gratitude significantly contributes to predicting satisfaction with life and happiness among the university students under study. The study came up with a structural model of the effect of life satisfaction as a mediating variable on the relationship between gratitude and happiness. The study also indicated that there is a direct, statistically significant effect of gratitude on happiness and satisfaction with life, and that there is a direct, statistically significant effect of satisfaction with life on happiness. The study also found an indirect positive and statistically significant effect of gratitude on happiness through satisfaction with life.