Reducing adolescent aggression and moral disengagement with gratitude practices: An experimental approach

This study explores the impact of gratitude-based interventions on adolescent aggression and moral disengagement in Pakistan. Using a pre-post experimental design, 200 college students (17–19 years) were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 100) and control (n = 100) groups. The intervention consisted of daily gratitude journaling and the “counting blessings” activity for two weeks. Data were collected using standardized scales for gratitude, aggression, and moral disengagement, and analyzed through SPSS using t-tests and ANOVA. Results showed a significant increase in gratitude and a significant decrease in aggression and moral disengagement in the experimental group compared to the control. Findings support gratitude practices as effective, low-cost strategies to enhance emotional well-being and reduce problematic behaviors in adolescents.