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

Authors

Shaina A. Kumar, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Madison EE. Edwards, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Hanna M. Grandgenett, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lisa L. Scherer, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
David DiLillo, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Anna E. Jaffe, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Shaina A. Kumar http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1928-646X

Date of this Version

2022

Citation

Journal of Happiness Studies 2022

doi:10.1007/s10902-022-00554-x

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9281297/pdf/10902_2022_Article_554.pdf

PMCID: PMC9281297

Comments

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2022

Free access at PubMed Central

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 twowave 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.