The dialectic dynamics between trait gratitude, subjective well-being, and psychopathology across 30 weeks

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to test the assumption whether subjective well-being is a mediator between trait gratitude and psychopathology and to see how these possible association changes when prior psychopathological symptoms are added as a second mediator. The longitudinal study comprised four measurements across 30 weeks in a sample of Dutch adults (N = 706, M_age = 44, SD_age = 14, Range = 18–80). Measures used were the GQ6 to assess trait gratitude, the SCL to assess symptoms of psychopathology, and the PANAS and SWLS to assess subjective well-being. Mediation analyses showed that the association between trait gratitude at baseline and psychopathology weeks after is mediated by subjective well-being. Adding psychopathology as a second mediator showed that trait gratitude is still no predictor for psychopathology, but it is for subjective well-being. However, subjective well-being was no longer a predictor for psychopathology because prior psychopathology was. These insights in the dialectic dynamics can help the counselling and clinical practice to improve their protocols for alleviating psychopathological symptoms, strengthening subjective well-being, and serving their clients in a more evidence-based way.

KEYWORDS:

• Dual continua model
• two continua model
• prospective study
• flourishing
• grateful

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lilian Jans-Beken

Dr. Lilian Jans-Beken is an independent researcher in positive psychology. Her main topic is gratitude. Besides doing research, she gives talks about gratitude and she is a writer. As an external supervisor she coaches master students in their graduating process. Dr. Jans-Beken studied lifespan psychology at the Open University of the Netherlands. After graduating with honors, she started a PhD program at the same university in which she examined the association between gratitude and mental health. She defended her dissertation successfully in 2018.  After this, she started as an entrepreneur in research and education.