Article

Gratitude, well-being and psychological distress among South African university students

Published in: Journal of Psychology in Africa
Volume 29 , issue 4 , 2019 , pages: 354–360

DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2019.1647492

Author(s): Henry D. Mason Directorate of Student Development and Support, South Africa

Keywords: depression , eudaimonic well-being , flourishing , gratitude , negative emotions , student counselling

Abstract

This study investigated the associations between gratitude, measures of well-being, and indicators of psychological distress (depression and negative emotion) among South African university students. Data were collected from 198 first-year university students (female = 69.70%; mean age = 20.55 years, SD = 1.70 years) using measures of gratitude, flourishing, well-being, depression, and negative emotion. The results showed that gratitude is positively associated with measures of well-being, and inversely related to indicators of psychological distress. University-based support programmes should consider gratitude interventions to support student success.

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