The Mediating Role of Gratefulness in the Relationship between Desires and Satisfaction and Its Islamic-Psychological Explanation

According to Islamic resources, on the one hand, one of the things that threaten satisfaction is a long-term desire, and on the other hand, a long desire would cause a decrease in gratefulness. The present study aimed to investigate the mediation role of gratefulness in the inverse relationship between desire and satisfaction. The current research method is descriptive and a correlational study that intends to determine the mediating variable. Among the students studying in Qom city, 200 people were chosen by convenience sampling method. The instruments included Arezoo Questionnaires (with two main subscales, internal and external desire), Raz Questionaire, and Shokr Questionaire (with two subscales of ungratefulness and gratefulness). Results show that extrinsic desire does directly affect satisfaction, which decreases satisfaction after a decrease in gratefulness. Also, intrinsic desire increases satisfaction by increasing gratefulness. However, the relationship direct path coefficient of innate desire with satisfaction is significant. While the indirect path, the mediation of ungratefulness (lack of gratefulness), is not significant. Still, one of the indirect path coefficients is not substantial, and therefore the mediation of ungratefulness in the relation of innate desire with satisfaction is not confirmed. The results of this study show that long-term wishes through the impact on what one knows about what he/she has in life would reduce or increase one's satisfaction.