IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v23y2022i7d10.1007_s10902-022-00554-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does Gratitude Promote Resilience During a Pandemic? An Examination of Mental Health and Positivity at the Onset of COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Shaina A. Kumar

    (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

  • Madison E. Edwards

    (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

  • Hanna M. Grandgenett

    (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

  • Lisa L. Scherer

    (University of Nebraska-Omaha)

  • David DiLillo

    (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

  • Anna E. Jaffe

    (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Abstract

Researchers have emphasized the detrimental effects of COVID-19 on mental health, but less attention has been given to personal strengths promoting resilience during the pandemic. One strength might be gratitude, which supports wellbeing amidst adversity. A two-wave examination of 201 college students revealed anxiety symptom severity increased to a lesser extent from pre-COVID (January–March 2020) to onset-COVID (April 2020) among those who reported greater pre-COVID gratitude. A similar trend appeared for depression symptom severity. Gratitude was also correlated with less negative changes in outlook, greater positive changes in outlook, and endorsement of positive experiences resulting from COVID-19. Thematic analysis showed “strengthened interpersonal connections” and “more time” were the most commonly reported positive experiences. Overall findings suggest gratitude lessened mental health difficulties and fostered positivity at the onset of the pandemic, but more research is needed to determine whether gratitude and other strengths promote resilience as COVID-19 continues.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:23:y:2022:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-022-00554-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00554-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-022-00554-x
    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/s10902-022-00554-x?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. Amelia Dennis & Jane Ogden, 2022. "Nostalgia, Gratitude, or Optimism: The Impact of a Two-Week Intervention on Well-Being During COVID-19," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2613-2634, August.
    2. Nelson-Coffey, S. Katherine & O'Brien, Mary M. & Braunstein, Bailey M. & Mickelson, Kristin D. & Ha, Thao, 2021. "Health behavior adherence and emotional adjustment during the COVID-19 pandemic in a US nationally representative sample: The roles of prosocial motivation and gratitude," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    3. Aleksander Aristovnik & Damijana Keržič & Dejan Ravšelj & Nina Tomaževič & Lan Umek, 2020. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life of Higher Education Students: A Global Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-34, October.
    4. Da Jiang & Ming Ming Chiu & Shuang Liu, 2022. "Daily Positive Support and Perceived Stress During COVID-19 Outbreak: The Role of Daily Gratitude Within Couples," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 65-79, January.
    5. Erin M. Fekete & Nathan T. Deichert, 2022. "A Brief Gratitude Writing Intervention Decreased Stress and Negative Affect During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2427-2448, August.
    6. Nicole Casali & Tommaso Feraco & Marta Ghisi & Chiara Meneghetti, 2021. "“Andrà tutto bene”: Associations Between Character Strengths, Psychological Distress and Self-efficacy During Covid-19 Lockdown," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 2255-2274, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lina Martinez & Lina Sofia Valenzuela & Victoria Eugenia Soto, 2022. "Well-Being amongst College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Developing Country," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Zane Asher Green & Sophie Rizwan, 2023. "Art-of-Living Intervention Imparted Through a Blended Learning Approach to Nurture Positivity Among Pakistan’s University Students During COVID-19: A Growth Curve Analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 1931-1962, August.

    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. Silvia Mariela Méndez-Prado & Ariel Flores Ulloa, 2022. "The Impact Analysis of Psychological Issues and Pandemic-Related Variables on Ecuadorian University Students during COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-23, October.
    2. Nadia Nandlall & Lisa D. Hawke & Em Hayes & Karleigh Darnay & Mardi Daley & Jacqueline Relihan & Joanna Henderson, 2022. "Learning Through a Pandemic: Youth Experiences With Remote Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    3. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Alexandra Sandu & Chris Taylor & Jennifer May Hampton, 2024. "Children’s Subjective Well-Being During the Coronavirus Pandemic," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(1), pages 309-347, February.
    4. Micaela Di Consiglio & Sheila Merola & Tiziana Pascucci & Cristiano Violani & Alessandro Couyoumdjian, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Italian University Students’ Mental Health: Changes across the Waves," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-13, September.
    5. Piotr Przymuszała & Šucja Zielińska-Tomczak & Michał Kłos & Angelika Kowalska & Paulina Birula & Martyna Piszczek & Magdalena Cerbin-Koczorowska & Ryszard Marciniak, 2022. "Distance Learning and Assessment During the COVID-19 Pandemic—Perspectives of Polish Medical and Healthcare Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    6. Natale Canale & Claudia Marino & Michela Lenzi & Alessio Vieno & Mark D. Griffiths & Marta Gaboardi & Matteo Giraldo & Carmen Cervone & Santinello Massimo, 2022. "How Communication Technology Fosters Individual and Social Wellbeing During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Support For a Digital Interaction Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 727-745, February.
    7. Mahdi Mohammed Alamri, 2023. "A Model of E-Learning through Achievement Motivation and Academic Achievement among University Students in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-25, January.
    8. Laura Ihm & Han Zhang & Alexandra van Vijfeijken & Mark G. Waugh, 2021. "Impacts of the Covid‐19 pandemic on the health of university students," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 618-627, May.
    9. Kailin Cheng & Jiangqun Liao, 2023. "Coping with Coronavirus Pandemic: Risk Perception Predicts Life Optimism," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 351-371, January.
    10. repec:thr:techub:10027:y:2022:i:1:p:117-130 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Bacci, Silvia & Fabbricatore, Rosa & Iannario, Maria, 2023. "Multilevel IRT models for the analysis of satisfaction for distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    12. Andrea Guazzini & Andrea Pesce & Lorena Marotta & Mirko Duradoni, 2022. "Through the Second Wave: Analysis of the Psychological and Perceptive Changes in the Italian Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-12, January.
    13. De Witte, Dries & Delporte, Margaux & Molenberghs, Geert & Verbeke, Geert & Demarest, Stefaan & Hoorens, Vera, 2023. "Self-uniqueness beliefs and adherence to recommended precautions. A 5-wave longitudinal COVID-19 study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    14. Ana Cristina García & Manuel Gil-Mediavilla & Ildefonso Álvarez & María de los Ángeles Casares, 2020. "The Influence of Social Networks within Educational and Social Fields: A Comparative Study between Two Generations of Online Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-11, November.
    15. Mario Jojoa & Begonya Garcia-Zapirain & Marino J. Gonzalez & Bernardo Perez-Villa & Elena Urizar & Sara Ponce & Maria Fernanda Tobar-Blandon, 2022. "Analysis of the Effects of Lockdown on Staff and Students at Universities in Spain and Colombia Using Natural Language Processing Techniques," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-20, May.
    16. Elena Korneeva & Wadim Strielkowski & Raisa Krayneva & Anna Sherstobitova, 2022. "Social Health and Psychological Safety of Students Involved in Online Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, October.
    17. Domenico Sanseverino & Danila Molinaro & Paola Spagnoli & Chiara Ghislieri, 2023. "The Dynamic between Self-Efficacy and Emotional Exhaustion through Studyholism: Which Resources Could Be Helpful for University Students?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(15), pages 1-17, July.
    18. Fahmida Liza Piya & Sumaiya Amin & Anik Das & Muhammad Ashad Kabir, 2022. "Impacts of COVID-19 on the Education, Life and Mental Health of Students in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-17, January.
    19. Meier, Dennis H. & Thomsen, Stephan L. & Trunzer, Johannes, 2022. "The Financial Situation of Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-696, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.
    20. Amer Mutrik Sayaf & Mahdi Mohammed Alamri & Mohammed Ayid Alqahtani & Waleed Mugahed Al-Rahmi, 2021. "Information and Communications Technology Used in Higher Education: An Empirical Study on Digital Learning as Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-19, June.
    21. Tommaso Feraco & Nicole Casali & Chiara Meneghetti & Samuel Greiff & Giorgia Cona, 2023. "Is Good Character All that Counts? A Comparison Between the Predictive Role of Specific Strengths and a General Factor of “Good Character” Using a Bifactor Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 2353-2376, October.

    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:jhappi:v:23:y:2022:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-022-00554-x. 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.