Relationships Between Gratitude and Mental Health Difficulties

Introduction: The extensive disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to heightened concerns about mental health sequelae. There has been significant interest in identifying factors associated with psychosocial vulnerability or resilience.

Aims: This study examined associations of trait gratitude with mental health difficulties among community residents in a southern state of the US.

Methods: In this cross-sectional online investigation, 543 adults were assessed during an earlier phase of the pandemic, characterized by the reopening of facilities but mounting infection rates. Participants were evaluated using a validated measure of trait gratitude and clinically relevant screening assess-ments of depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms.

Results: After adjusting for a range of pandemic-associated burdens and sociodemographic factors, multivariable analyses indicated that gratitude was significantly related to diminished levels of depres-sion, anxiety, and trauma. These effects remained significant after additional adjustment for other psychosocial resources (religiousness and perceived support).

Conclusions: Findings provide novel information regarding relationships between gratitude and reduced mental health difficulties among community residents during a stressful period early in the pandemic. Results set the stage for longitudinal research. A disposition to identify and appreciate beneficial experiences might contribute to more favorable adaptation to communal crises, and warrants further investigation.

COVID-19 pandemic, mental health, gratitude, depression, post-traumatic stress

Allen C. SHERMAN

Behavioral Medicine Division, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5457-1659

John M. SALSMAN: Wake Forest School of Medicine and the Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2317-4006

Crystal L. PARK: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6572-7321

Erick L. MESSIAS: Faculty Affairs and Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. Currently at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0717-1166

Mark L. WILLIAMS: Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4227-761X

Benjamin C. AMICK: Department of Epidemiology, Fay W Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3468-9451

Teresa J. HUDSON: Center for Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

Stephanie SIMONTON-ATCHLEY: Behavioral Medicine Division, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA