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The Mediating Effect of Gratitude on the Relation Between Religiosity and Well-being in Samples of Undergraduate Students and Adults Formerly Raised by Grandparent Caregivers

Author

Listed:
  • Ethan D. Lantz

    (Mississippi State University)

  • Melanie Stearns

    (Mississippi State University)

  • Ian McKay

    (Mississippi State University)

  • Danielle K. Nadorff

    (Mississippi State University)

Abstract

Previous research has found that gratitude, which is a central concept or practice in many religions and spiritual traditions, benefits an individual's well-being and may reduce symptoms of depression (Emmons & Stern in Journal of Clinical Psychology 69: 846–855, 2013). The current research utilized two different samples from the United States (i.e., undergraduate students at a large, public university, and a national sample of individuals formerly raised by custodial grandparents and/or through foster care obtained through Amazon Mechanical Turk) to examine the relation between religiosity and well-being. Measures used included life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life Scale), symptoms of depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression Scale-Revised), and gratitude (the Gratitude Questionnaire-6 Item Form, GQ-6; and the Transpersonal Gratitude Scale). The relation between religiosity (the Stearns-McKinney Assessment of Religious Traits) and psychological well-being (i.e., life satisfaction and depression) was mediated by gratitude among adults formerly raised by custodial grandparents and undergraduate college students at a large Southeastern university. These results indicate that gratitude may be an important factor in understanding the relation between religiosity and depressive symptoms and life satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Ethan D. Lantz & Melanie Stearns & Ian McKay & Danielle K. Nadorff, 2022. "The Mediating Effect of Gratitude on the Relation Between Religiosity and Well-being in Samples of Undergraduate Students and Adults Formerly Raised by Grandparent Caregivers," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 969-984, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:23:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10902-021-00435-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-021-00435-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Loren Toussaint & Philip Friedman, 2009. "Forgiveness, Gratitude, and Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Affect and Beliefs," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(6), pages 635-654, December.
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