6-item measure of individual differences in the disposition to experience gratitude. ≈ 2 min to complete. Free with attribution.
GQ-6 (Gratitude Questionnaire-6) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess 6-item measure of individual differences in the disposition to experience gratitude.. It is most often used for assessing dispositional gratitude in positive psychology and clinical research.. The instrument contains 6 items. Typical administration time is ≈ 2 min.
Source / attribution: Free to use with citation
Assessing dispositional gratitude in positive psychology and clinical research. GQ-6 is part of standard practice in this setting because it provides a structured, replicable assessment that can be tracked over time and compared across patients or visits.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, GQ-6 is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 6 items below to see your GQ-6 score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 7-point scale (1–7). Your score updates live as you answer.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
Sum all 6 items scored 1-7 (strongly disagree to strongly agree). Items 3 and 6 are reverse-scored. Total range 6-42. Higher scores indicate greater gratitude.
Scoring notes: Sum all 6 items scored 1-7 (strongly disagree to strongly agree). Items 3 and 6 are reverse-scored. Total range 6-42. Higher scores indicate greater gratitude.
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 6–24 | Low gratitude | Consider gratitude interventions |
| 25–33 | Moderate gratitude | Monitor |
| 34–42 | High gratitude | Maintain |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I have so much in life to be thankful for | Slightly agree | 5 |
| 2 | If I had to list everything that I felt grateful for, it would be a very long list | Slightly agree | 5 |
| 3 | When I look at the world, I don't see much to be grateful for | Slightly disagree | 5 |
| 4 | I am grateful to a wide variety of people | Slightly agree | 5 |
| 5 | As I get older I find myself more able to appreciate the people, events, and situations that have been part of my life history | Neither agree nor disagree | 4 |
| 6 | Long amounts of time can go by before I feel grateful to something or someone | Slightly disagree | 5 |
Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.
5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 4 + 5 = 29
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 29 falls between 25 and 33 → Moderate gratitude
Moderate gratitude. Monitor
A score is one input alongside history and examination. GQ-6 supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
Psychometric figures are drawn from the validation literature and may vary across clinical populations and translations.
If GQ-6 doesn't fit your context, related instruments in wellbeing include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHO-5 | 5-item measure of subjective psychological well-being. | 5 | ≈ 1 min |
| FS | 8-item measure of self-perceived success in relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism. | 8 | ≈ 2 min |
| SPANE | 12-item measure of positive and negative emotional experiences. | 12 | ≈ 2 min |
| MLQ | 10-item measure assessing presence of meaning and search for meaning in life. | 10 | ≈ 3 min |
| SHS | 4-item global measure of subjective happiness using absolute ratings and social comparisons. | 4 | ≈ 1 min |
| AHS | 12-item measure of dispositional hope with agency and pathways subscales. | 12 | ≈ 3 min |
| PWB-18 | 18-item short form assessing six dimensions of psychological well-being: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. | 18 | ≈ 5 min |
| PGIS | 9-item measure of active, intentional engagement in personal growth and self-change. | 9 | ≈ 2 min |
GQ-6 (Gratitude Questionnaire-6) is a validated instrument that assesses 6-item measure of individual differences in the disposition to experience gratitude.. Its primary clinical use is assessing dispositional gratitude in positive psychology and clinical research..
GQ-6 typically takes ≈ 2 min to administer. Time can vary slightly depending on whether it is self-administered or clinician-led.
GQ-6 contains 6 items. Items are summed to produce a total score.
Scores of 34–42 fall in the "High gratitude" band. Maintain
Scores of 6–24 fall in the "Low gratitude" band. Consider gratitude interventions
GQ-6 has reported Cronbach's α of 0.82 in validation samples and test–retest reliability of 0.8. Correlates with life satisfaction, happiness, optimism, and prosocial behavior; discriminates from materialism and envy.
GQ-6 is free to use with attribution. Free to use with citation
McCullough, M. E., Emmons, R. A., & Tsang, J. (2002). The grateful disposition: A conceptual and empirical topography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(1), 112-127.
No. GQ-6 is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
GQ-6 is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: