Effects of School-Based Ignatian Examen Meditation on Well-Being, Gratitude, Hope, and Spirituality in Hong Kong Catholic Primary School Students

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

• Ages 9 to 12 years
• All sexes
• Healthy volunteers accepted
• Child

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

About this study

Official title: The Effects of Ignatian Examen Meditation Implemented in Different School-Based Formats on Psychological Well-Being, Gratitude, Hope, and Spirituality of Hong Kong Catholic Primary School Students

Conditions

Psychological Well-being, Gratitude, Hope, Spirituality, Stress, Anxiety

Being tested

Examen Meditation

Medical subject headings

Psychological Well-Being, Anxiety Disorders, Depression

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

• Examen MeditationBehavioural

  Examen Meditation, rooted in Ignatian spirituality, is increasingly promoted in some Catholic schools. It is used as a daily prayer or reflection practice at the end of the day, rooted in the Roman Catholic spiritual tradition. The Examen is traditionally composed of five steps (Light, Gratitude, Review the Day, Face my Weaknesses, and Look Toward Tomorrow) and requires approximately 10 minutes to complete.

  In Hong Kong, there are limited schools that use Examen Meditation as their common practice. The present study aims to address this distinction by examining the effects of an Ignatian Examen Meditation implemented in Catholic primary schools on Hong Kong students' psychological well-being, sense of gratitude and hope, and spirituality. Moreover, it investigates differences in implementation formats across various delivery formats using a mixed-methods design, with an active comparison condition. It also explores how both the teachers and students experience the Examen Meditation.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

1. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21 (DASS 21-Y)

   Psychological well-being will be measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, 21-item Form for Youth. The questionnaire is a self report scale suitable for youth aged 7 to 18 (Primary 3 to Secondary 6 in Hong Kong). It is designed to measure three kinds of emotional states, including depression, anxiety and stress. Each of them contains seven items, and responses are rated on a 4-point scale from 0 to 3. The scale contains 21 items, each indicating seven of them. Higher scores show greater levels of psychological distress.

   Measured: Pre-intervention (week 0) and post-intervention (end of 6 months)

2. The Gratitude Questionnaire - Six Item Form (GQ-6)

   The Gratitude Questionnaire is a six-item self-report measure of gratitude in one's daily life. The questionnaire is a self-report scale consisting of 6 items rated on a 7-point scale from 'strongly disagree' to 'strongly agree', with higher scores indicating a greater tendency toward gratitude. There are three components of the sense of gratitude: : recognising benefits received, responding with appreciation through gratitude expressions, and experiencing gratitude as an internal affective state.

   Measured: Pre-intervention (week 0) and post-intervention (end of 6 months)

3. The Children's Hope Scale (CHS)

   Children's sense of hope will be measured using the Children's Hope Scale. The questionnaire is a self-report scale suitable for youth aged 8 to 16 (Primary 3 to Secondary 4 in Hong Kong). It is a 6-item form rated on a 6-point scale from 'None of the time' to 'All of the time', with higher scores indicating greater hope. There are two components of the sense of hope: agency and pathway. Agency is an individual's belief that can sustain efforts towards the goal, and the pathway reflects the belief that one generates suitable routes to the goal.

   Measured: Pre-intervention (week 0) and post-intervention (end of 6 months)

4. Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS)

   The Spiritual Well-Being Scale is a 10-item self-report measure of spiritual well-being. The questionnaire is a self-report scale consisting of 10 items rated on a 5-point scale from 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree', with higher scores indicating less sense of spirituality. In this study, the participants come from Catholic schools, but not all the students are Catholic. Therefore, the word 'God' can be used instead of 'High Power' that the participants may believe in.

   Measured: Pre-intervention (week 0) and post-intervention (end of 6 months)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

1. First posted5 Oct 2026
2. Study start1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
3. Primary completion1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
4. Study completion1 Aug 2027 (estimated)

Resources

• Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
• Other trials for Psychological Well-beingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
• More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
• What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.