What is it about?

This study built and tested a 24-item psychological scale to measure "healthy thinking" among 400 university students at the Colleges of Education for Humanities and Pure Sciences at the University of Mosul. Healthy thinking is defined as a cognitive process involving flexibility, optimism, self-awareness, and effective crisis management. The scale was validated by experts (98% agreement) and showed strong reliability (stability coefficient = 0.80). Results revealed that students scored significantly above the hypothetical average (mean = 69.93 vs. expected 60), confirming that these students genuinely possess healthy thinking patterns shaped by their academic and life experiences.

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Why is it important?

Negative thinking patterns — such as overgeneralization and cognitive distortions — are increasingly common among university students due to academic pressure and exposure to unrealistic digital content. Yet validated tools to assess positive cognitive skills remain scarce, especially in Arabic-speaking educational contexts. This scale offers educators, psychologists, and policymakers a reliable instrument to identify healthy thinking levels and design targeted interventions. The findings also demonstrate that lived experience — including navigating post-conflict environments like Mosul — can foster remarkable cognitive resilience and emotional strength in students.

Perspectives

As a researcher and educator at the University of Mosul, I have witnessed firsthand how students who have grown up amid adversity often develop extraordinary mental strength. This study was motivated by a belief that healthy thinking is not a luxury — it is a teachable, measurable skill that educational institutions must actively cultivate. I hope this scale becomes a practical tool for researchers across the Arab world to better understand and support the psychological well-being of their students, and that it encourages a broader shift toward cognitive wellness in university curricula.

Dr. Mohammed Hashim Taha Sulaiman AL-Ogaidi
University of Mosul

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This page is a summary of: Building and Applying the Health Thinking Scale among the Students of the Faculties of Education for Humanities and Pure Sciences, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, January 2026, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science,
DOI: 10.47772/ijriss.2026.100500136.
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