The Relational Self and Its Relationship to Existential Gratitude among Educational Counselors

Abstract

The current study aimed to identify the correlational relationship between the relational self and existential gratitude among educational counselors, and to determine the level of each variable within the study sample. The relational self refers to that aspect of an individual's identity that is shaped by their close relationships with others, such that these relationships become a structural part of one's self-concept rather than merely an external framework surrounding it. Existential gratitude, on the other hand, refers to an individual's capacity to evoke feelings of thankfulness and appreciation for life specifically amid difficult circumstances and suffering, rather than in their absence, representing a profound existential attitude that is distinct from ordinary, transient gratitude.The study adopted the descriptive correlational method, and the sample consisted of (400) male and female educational counselors selected randomly. To achieve the study's objectives, the researcher constructed a Relational Self Scale based on Cross's (2017) Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal Theory, which in its final form consisted of (20) items, and adopted the Existential Gratitude Scale based on Wong's (2019) theory, consisting of (9) items, after verifying the validity and reliability of both instruments.The results showed that the sample members exhibited a high level of relational self, with a mean score of (74.0700) and a standard deviation of (12.09321), which was statistically significantly higher than the hypothetical mean of (60). The results also showed a high level of existential gratitude, with a mean score of (29.8925) and a standard deviation of (5.06706), significantly higher than the hypothetical mean of (27). Pearson correlation results revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between the two variables (r = 0.289, p < 0.05), indicating that a counselor's stronger sense of relational self is associated with a greater capacity for existential gratitude amid professional pressures.The study recommended designing counseling programs to enhance both of these psychological resources among educational counselors