Longitudinal Associations of Gratitude with Subjective Well-Being and Psychological Well-Being: A Two-Wave Study

Gratitude, a universally cherished positive quality, is intricately linked with individual well-being. Although existing research underscores the role of gratitude as a significant predictor of well-being, enhanced well-being may also contribute to higher levels of gratitude. However, few studies have directly explored the reciprocal dynamics between these constructs. To address this gap, this study employed a longitudinal design with a large sample of 2539 Chinese adolescents (M_age = 17.27, SD = 0.86), and aimed to elucidate the bidirectional interplay between gratitude and both subjective and psychological well-being. Correlation analysis showed that gratitude was significantly and positively related to both types of well-being. Results from cross-lagged analysis revealed that the two components of subjective well-being showed differences in relation to gratitude. Specifically, gratitude predicted cognitive well-being but the reverse is not true. However, a mutual predictive relationship is observed between gratitude and affective well-being, and between gratitude and psychological well-being. Overall, our findings facilitate contribute to a deeper comprehension of the intricate relationship between gratitude and well-being and imply that nurturing adolescents’ well-being could potentially foster the development of their gratitude disposition.