Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of the Gratitude Questionnaire in a Chinese Sample: Comparing the 6-Item and 5-Item Versions

Abstract

Objectives: There are controversies related to the item composition of the Gratitude Questionnaire-Six-Item Form (GQ-6). Recent literature has suggested removing Item 6 from the scale. This study evaluated both the 6- and 5-item versions and proposed an adapted Chinese version. Method: Nine hundred and three undergraduate students were recruited for this psychometric evaluation study. The internal consistency, concurrent validity, and construct validity of the GQ-6 were evaluated. Results: The results showed that the 5-item Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-5), which excludes Item 6, demonstrated better internal consistency (α = 0.74) compared to the original 6-item version (GQ-6) (α = 0.59). Both the 6-item and 5-item versions of the Gratitude Questionnaire exhibited good concurrent validity with well-established measures of self-esteem, life satisfaction, happiness, and mental well-being, as reported in the gratitude literature. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results indicated that the 5-item version possessed better construct validity than the original version. The CFA results also supported a unidimensional factor structure for the GQ-5 after post-hoc modifications. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the GQ-5 demonstrates better psychometric properties compared to the original GQ-6. These results will assist researchers in choosing the appropriate version of the Gratitude Questionnaire for research studies conducted in different Chinese contexts. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered.