The relationship between gratitude and social well-being: Evidence from a longitudinal study and a daily diary investigation

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.01087

Abstract

Abstract:

The positive psychological construct of gratitude is crucial for health and well-being. Previous studies have shown a significant positive correlation between gratitude and social well-being. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have examined this potentially reciprocal relationship from a longitudinal perspective. According to the broaden-and-build theory and gratitude amplification theory, we hypothesized that gratitude has a predictive effect on social well-being. In addition, based on the personality and social relationships model and self-determination theory, we proposed that social well-being is an antecedent to gratitude. In summary, this research combines a longitudinal study and a daily diary investigation to systematically explore the causal relation between gratitude and social well-being.

Study 1 employs a two-wave cross-lagged design to explore the long-term relationship between trait gratitude and social well-being. The sample comprised 563 undergraduate students, who all participated online. Pursuant to the study purpose, participants were asked to complete the gratitude and social well-being scales twice, separated by a seven-month interval. The cross-lagged path analysis suggested reciprocal effects between trait gratitude and social well-being. To reduce recall bias and explore the short-term association between gratitude and social well-being, Study 2 employs a daily diary method. A total of 274 young adults completed daily gratitude and social well-being measures for 21 consecutive days.

In Study 1, trait gratitude at T1 significantly positively predicted social well-being at T2, while social well-being at T1 also significantly predicted trait gratitude at T2. These effects remained significant after controlling for age and gender. Consistent with Study 1, Study 2 also revealed a reciprocal relationship: state gratitude on one day positively predicted social well-being the next day, while social well-being on one day also positively predicted state gratitude the next day. Moreover, these relationships were stable after controlling for time trends. Overall, the results of Study 1 and Study 2 support the hypotheses by showing reciprocal predictive effects between gratitude and social well-being.

In summary, we predicted that experiencing gratitude would lead to higher social well-being, which would, in turn, result in higher gratitude, activating an upward spiral. This work deepens understanding of the interaction between gratitude and social well-being, paving the way for future intervention research to help increase both.

Key words: gratitude, social well-being, longitudinal study, daily diary method

YE Ying, ZHANG Linting, ZHAO Jingjing, KONG Feng. (2023). The relationship between gratitude and social well-being: Evidence from a longitudinal study and a daily diary investigation. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 55(7), 1087-1098.

Figures/Tables 7

References 62

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Variables	M	SD	1	2	3	4
1. T1 Gratitude	33.67	5.92	1
2. T1 Social well-being	20.98	4.73	0.31**	1
3. T2 Gratitude	32.98	6.35	0.43**	0.26**	1
4. T2 Social well-being	22.67	4.50	0.29**	0.38**	0.55**	1

Variables	M	SD	1	2	3	4
1. T1 Gratitude	33.67	5.92	1
2. T1 Social well-being	20.98	4.73	0.31**	1
3. T2 Gratitude	32.98	6.35	0.43**	0.26**	1
4. T2 Social well-being	22.67	4.50	0.29**	0.38**	0.55**	1

Models	χ²	df	p	RMSEA	SRMR	CFI	TLI	Model Comparison	Δχ²	p
M1	829.58	194	<0.001	0.08	0.08	0.92	0.91
M2	809.14	193	<0.001	0.08	0.06	0.92	0.91	M1?M2	20.44	<0.001
M3	814.57	193	<0.001	0.08	0.07	0.92	0.91	M1?M3	15.01	<0.001
M4	799.97	192	<0.001	0.08	0.05	0.92	0.91	M1?M4	29.61	<0.001

Models	χ²	df	p	RMSEA	SRMR	CFI	TLI	Model Comparison	Δχ²	p
M1	829.58	194	<0.001	0.08	0.08	0.92	0.91
M2	809.14	193	<0.001	0.08	0.06	0.92	0.91	M1?M2	20.44	<0.001
M3	814.57	193	<0.001	0.08	0.07	0.92	0.91	M1?M3	15.01	<0.001
M4	799.97	192	<0.001	0.08	0.05	0.92	0.91	M1?M4	29.61	<0.001

Models	Autoregressive path	β	95% CI	Cross-lagged paths	β	95% CI
M1	Gratitude _T1→Gratitude _T2	0.38***	[0.30, 0.46]
M1	Social well-being _T1→Social well-being _T2	0.34***	[0.26, 0.42]
M2	Gratitude _T1→Gratitude _T2	0.46***	[0.38, 0.54]	Gratitude _T1→Social well-being_T2	0.22***	[0.13, 0.31]
M2	Social well-being_T1→Social well-being_T2	0.26***	[0.18, 0.35]
M3	Gratitude _T1→Gratitude _T2	0.31***	[0.23, 0.40]	Social well-being_T1→Gratitude_T2	0.19***	[0.10, 0.28]
M3	Social well-being _T1→Social well-being _T2	0.41***	[0.33, 0.50]
M4	Gratitude _T1→Gratitude _T2	0.40***	[0.31, 0.49]	Gratitude _T1→Social well-being _T2	0.19***	[0.09, 0.28]
M4	Social well-being _T1→Social well-being _T2	0.34***	[0.24, 0.43]	Social well-being_T1→Gratitude _T2	0.15**	[0.05, 0.24]