TY  - EJOU
AU  - Zhang, Jun 
AU  - Guo, Junqiao 

TI  - The Influence of Gratitude on Coping Strategies: Indirect Effect Testing from Longitudinal Data
T2  - International Journal of Mental Health Promotion

PY  - 2025
VL  - 27
IS  - 2
SN  - 2049-8543

AB  -  <b>Background:</b> The academic community is increasingly interested in understanding the mechanisms through which gratitude influences coping strategies. In addition, the role of gratitude in fostering long-term resilience and mental health outcomes has garnered significant attention. This study explores the mechanisms through which gratitude affects problem-focused coping strategies and emotion-focused coping strategies by constructing models involving gratitude, perceived social support, self-esteem, and problem-focused coping strategies, as well as models involving gratitude, perceived social support, self-esteem, and emotion-focused coping strategies. <b>Methods:</b> A longitudinal survey was conducted on 1666 Chinese university students using highly reliable and valid scales, including the Gratitude Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, Self-Esteem Scale, and Brief Coping Strategies Scale. To examine whether perceived social support and self-esteem play a significant indirect role in the relationship between gratitude and problem-focused coping strategies, as well as between gratitude and emotion-focused coping strategies. Differences in variables based on demographic variables: We used one-way ANOVA to test the differences in gratitude, perceived social support, self-esteem, problem-focused coping strategies, and emotion-focused coping strategies among students of different grades and ages. Additionally, independent samples <i>t</i>-tests were used to examine the differences between students of different genders and household registrations. <b>Results:</b> The study found that (1) Gratitude significantly positively predicted perceived social support (β = 0.661, <i>p</i> < 0.001), self-esteem (β = 0.234, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and problem-focused coping strategies (β = 0.130, <i>p</i> < 0.001); (2) Perceived social support significantly positively predicted self-esteem (β = 0.440, <i>p</i> < 0.001; β = 0.439, <i>p</i> < 0.001), problem-focused coping strategies (β = 0.443, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and emotion-focused coping strategies (β = 0.279, <i>p</i> < 0.001); (3) Self-esteem significantly positively predicted problem-focused coping strategies (β = 0.172, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and significantly negatively predicted emotion-focused coping strategies (β = −0.205, <i>p</i> < 0.001); (4) Gratitude can influence problem-focused coping strategies through the dual indirect effect of two mediating variables. After the inclusion of the mediating variables, the effect of problem-focused coping strategies in the indirect model was further strengthened. (5) Gratitude can influence emotion-focused coping strategies through a completely indirect effect on perceived social support and self-esteem. After inserting the mediating variables, the effect of emotion-focused coping strategies in the mediating model is enhanced. <b>Conclusion:</b> Gratitude can directly and positively predict problem-focused coping strategies, and it can also positively predict problem-focused coping strategies through the dual indirect effect of two mediating variables. Gratitude does not significantly predict emotion-focused coping strategies directly, but it can influence emotion-focused coping strategies via a double indirect pathway.
KW  - Gratitude; problem-focused coping strategies; emotion-focused coping strategies; perceived social support; self-esteem; indirect effect

DO  - 10.32604/ijmhp.2025.058022