IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ariqol/v19y2024i3d10.1007_s11482-024-10299-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

“Helping Others Makes Me Feel Better”: Trait Gratitude, Resilience, and Helping Behavior Improve Mental Health during a COVID-19 Lockdown

Author

Listed:
  • Feng Pan

    (East China Normal University
    Nantong University)

  • Ningning Feng

    (East China Normal University)

  • Tong Zhao

    (East China Normal University)

  • Yongjie Jiang

    (Nantong University)

  • Lijuan Cui

    (East China Normal University
    East China Normal University)

Abstract

Throughout the entire COVID-19 pandemic, physical lockdown restrictions caused a rise in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress. During the pandemic, Chinese universities implemented “dormitory isolation” for students amid outbreaks, requiring them to stay in their university dormitories for several weeks or even months. This study focused on the mental health of these students and investigated how trait gratitude of them was associated with their mental health. Participants were 1,200 college students from a university in China, who experienced a two-week isolation in university dormitories. We used moderated mediation models to analyze their sex, trait gratitude, resilience, mental health, and helping behavior. Higher trait gratitude was associated with higher resilience, which in turn predicted better mental health. The relationship between trait gratitude and resilience was stronger for females who engaged in helping behaviors, while this relationship was weaker for males who engaged in helping behaviors. The findings suggest that trait gratitude of college students can benefit their mental health through their resilience when they encounter stressful contexts such as dormitory lockdown. Meanwhile, this study indicates the important contextual value of engaging in helping behaviors for females during the lockdown.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng Pan & Ningning Feng & Tong Zhao & Yongjie Jiang & Lijuan Cui, 2024. "“Helping Others Makes Me Feel Better”: Trait Gratitude, Resilience, and Helping Behavior Improve Mental Health during a COVID-19 Lockdown," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(3), pages 1437-1457, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:19:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s11482-024-10299-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-024-10299-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11482-024-10299-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11482-024-10299-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guillaume Tachon & Rebecca Shankland & Fanny Marteau-Chasserieau & Blaire Morgan & Christophe Leys & Ilios Kotsou, 2021. "Gratitude Moderates the Relation between Daily Hassles and Satisfaction with Life in University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Alessandro Morganti & Andrea Brambilla & Andrea Aguglia & Andrea Amerio & Norberto Miletto & Nicolò Parodi & Chiara Porcelli & Anna Odone & Alessandra Costanza & Carlo Signorelli & Gianluca Serafini &, 2022. "Effect of Housing Quality on the Mental Health of University Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-11, March.
    3. Lung Chen & Ying Kee, 2008. "Gratitude and Adolescent Athletes’ Well-Being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 89(2), pages 361-373, November.
    4. Kevin Bradley Wright & Rochelle Davidson Mhonde, 2022. "Faith-Based Community Members, Family, and COVID-19: The Role of Family Cohesion, Social Support, and Spiritual Support on Quality of Life, Depression, and COVID-19-Prevention Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, September.
    5. Jessica Burrai & Alessandro Quaglieri & Umberto Aitella & Clarissa Cricenti & Ivan D’Alessio & Alessandra Pizzo & Giulia Lausi & Anna Maria Giannini & Emanuela Mari, 2022. "The Fear of COVID-19: Gender Differences among Italian Health Volunteers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Ralph Horne & Nicola Willand & Louise Dorignon & Bhavna Middha, 2023. "Housing inequalities and resilience: the lived experience of COVID-19," International Journal of Housing Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 313-337, April.
    7. Francesca Gallè & Elita Anna Sabella & Stefano Ferracuti & Osvalda De Giglio & Giuseppina Caggiano & Carmela Protano & Federica Valeriani & Eduardo Alfonso Parisi & Giuliana Valerio & Giorgio Liguori , 2020. "Sedentary Behaviors and Physical Activity of Italian Undergraduate Students during Lockdown at the Time of CoViD−19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-11, August.
    8. Shaina A. Kumar & Madison E. Edwards & Hanna M. Grandgenett & Lisa L. Scherer & David DiLillo & Anna E. Jaffe, 2022. "Does Gratitude Promote Resilience During a Pandemic? An Examination of Mental Health and Positivity at the Onset of COVID-19," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3463-3483, October.
    9. Anna Alkozei & Ryan Smith & William D. S. Killgore, 2018. "Gratitude and Subjective Wellbeing: A Proposal of Two Causal Frameworks," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 1519-1542, June.
    10. Hong Yan Li & Hui Cao & Doris Y. P. Leung & Yim Wah Mak, 2020. "The Psychological Impacts of a COVID-19 Outbreak on College Students in China: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-11, June.
    11. Snow Yunni Lin & Jian Han Tan & Brenda Xian Hui Tay & John Paul Chern Shwen Koh & Lei Siew & Marcus Cher Hean Teo & Jeremy Yen Chin Tan & Saima Hilal, 2022. "Exploring the Socio-Demographic and Psychosocial Factors That Enhance Resilience in the COVID-19 Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-11, October.
    12. Hsin Chu & Chuan‐Ju Lin & Kai‐Jo Chiang & Chiung‐Hua Chen & Ru‐Band Lu & Kuei‐Ru Chou, 2010. "Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(19‐20), pages 2787-2794, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Matthew J. Savage & Philip J. Hennis & Daniele Magistro & James Donaldson & Laura C. Healy & Ruth M. James, 2021. "Nine Months into the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study Showing Mental Health and Movement Behaviours Are Impaired in UK Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-10, March.
    2. Benedetta Barchielli & Clarissa Cricenti & Francesca Gallè & Elita Anna Sabella & Fabrizio Liguori & Giovanna Da Molin & Giorgio Liguori & Giovanni Battista Orsi & Anna Maria Giannini & Stefano Ferrac, 2022. "Climate Changes, Natural Resources Depletion, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Russian-Ukrainian War: What Is the Impact on Habits Change and Mental Health?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Vladimir Reshetnikov & Oleg Mitrokhin & Elena Belova & Victor Mikhailovsky & Maria Mikerova & Ali Alsaegh & Irina Yakushina & Valery Royuk, 2021. "Indoor Environmental Quality in Dwellings and Lifestyle Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Russian Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-9, June.
    4. Lili Tian & Shuya Chu & E. Scott Huebner, 2016. "The Chain of Relationships Among Gratitude, Prosocial Behavior and Elementary School Students’ School Satisfaction: The Role of School Affect," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 9(2), pages 515-532, June.
    5. Christoph Lindner & Ibolya Kotta & Eszter Eniko Marschalko & Kinga Szabo & Kinga Kalcza-Janosi & Jan Retelsdorf, 2022. "Increased Risk Perception, Distress Intolerance and Health Anxiety in Stricter Lockdowns: Self-Control as a Key Protective Factor in Early Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-22, April.
    6. Jialu Shi & Xuan Wang & Fuyi Ci & Kai Liu, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Patterns of the COVID-19 Pandemic in China: An Empirical Study Based on 413 Cities or Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-16, February.
    7. Lia-Ecaterina Oltean & Andrei C. Miu & Radu Șoflău & Aurora Szentágotai-Tătar, 2022. "Tailoring Gratitude Interventions. How and for Whom Do They Work? The Potential Mediating Role of Reward Processing and the Moderating Role of Childhood Adversity and Trait Gratitude," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 3007-3030, August.
    8. Huimin Ding & Liyue Zhu & Hua Wei & Jingyu Geng & Feng Huang & Li Lei, 2022. "The Relationship between Cyber-Ostracism and Adolescents’ Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: Mediating Roles of Depression and Experiential Avoidance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-11, September.
    9. Agnieszka Chwałczyńska & Waldemar Andrzejewski, 2021. "Changes in Body Mass and Composition of the Body as Well as Physical Activity and Time Spent in Front of the Monitor by Students of the Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences during the Perio," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.
    10. Sean G. Young, 2023. "Hidden Costs of the COVID-19 Pandemic Response," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-7, April.
    11. Aurélie Goncalves & Sarah Le Vigouroux & Elodie Charbonnier, 2021. "University Students’ Lifestyle Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Four-Wave Longitudinal Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-9, August.
    12. Haleama Al Sabbah & Zainab Taha & Radwan Qasrawi & Enas A. Assaf & Leila Cheikh Ismail & Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri & Maha Hoteit & Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh & Reema Tayyem & Hiba Bawadi & Majid AlKhalaf & Khlood B, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-15, August.
    13. Dina Di Giacomo & Alessandra Martelli & Federica Guerra & Federica Cielo & Jessica Ranieri, 2021. "Mediator Effect of Affinity for E-Learning on Mental Health: Buffering Strategy for the Resilience of University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, July.
    14. Natalia Sauer & Agnieszka Sałek & Wojciech Szlasa & Tomasz Ciecieląg & Jakub Obara & Sara Gaweł & Dominik Marciniak & Katarzyna Karłowicz-Bodalska, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Well-Being of College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    15. Yu-Hsiu Chu & Yao-Chuen Li, 2022. "The Impact of Online Learning on Physical and Mental Health in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-10, March.
    16. Maria Ferrara & Elisa Langiano & Lavinia Falese & Pierluigi Diotaiuti & Cristina Cortis & Elisabetta De Vito, 2022. "Changes in Physical Activity Levels and Eating Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Sociodemographic Analysis in University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, May.
    17. Seung Pil Lee, 2020. "Sustainable Reciprocity Mechanism of Social Initiatives in Sport: The Mediating Effect of Gratitude," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, November.
    18. Francesca Gallè & Carmela Protano & Matteo Zaccarin & Stefano Zanni & Federica Valeriani & Giorgio Liguori & Vincenzo Romano Spica & Matteo Vitali, 2022. "Swimming at the Time of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study among Young Italian Competitive Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-8, October.
    19. Ana Rodríguez-Larrad & Asier Mañas & Idoia Labayen & Marcela González-Gross & Ander Espin & Susana Aznar & José Antonio Serrano-Sánchez & Francisco J. Vera-Garcia & Domingo González-Lamuño & Ignacio A, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Spanish University Students: Role of Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    20. Simone P. Nguyen & Cameron L. Gordon, 2024. "Children’s Expressions of Gratitude for General and Specific Categories Amid a Pandemic," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 1-22, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:19:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s11482-024-10299-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.