The emotion of gratitude as a mediator between subjective happiness, positive and negative affect and satisfaction with life in Spanish adults / La emoción de gratitud como mediadora entre la felicidad subjetiva, el afecto positivo y negativo y la satisfacción con la vida en adultos españoles

El presente estudio investigó si la satisfacción con la vida se predice a partir de la felicidad subjetiva, afectos positivos y negativos, alteración psicológica y emociones de gratitud y si la emoción de gratitud está mediando la relación con la felicidad subjetiva, los afectos y la satisfacción con la vida. Se hicieron correlación de Pearson, pruebas de regresión lineal múltiple y modelos de mediación en una muestra de 1537 adultos españoles, 73.6% mujeres y 26.4% hombres, edad 18-88 años (M = 42.56 años; DT = 16.29). Se halló que las emociones de gratitud median la relación entre felicidad subjetiva y satisfacción con la vida y entre los afectos positivos y la satisfacción con la vida. Los afectos positivos son los que más se relacionan con la satisfacción con la vida, seguidos por la felicidad subjetiva y las emociones de gratitud. Los hombres están más satisfechos con la vida cuando sienten menos afecto negativo. Además, las emociones de gratitud median la relación entre felicidad subjetiva y satisfacción con la vida y entre los afectos positivos y la satisfacción con la vida. La diferencia principal radica en que las emociones de gratitud son más fuertes en las mujeres que en los hombres.(AU)

This study aims to examine the predictability of satisfaction with life on the basis of subjective happiness, positive and negative affect, psy-chological disturbance and emotion of gratitude. It also seeks to assess whether the emotion of gratitude is a mediating variable withsubjective happiness, affect, and satisfaction with life. Statistical analyses of Pearson'scorrelation, multiple linear regression tests, and mediation models were conducted on asample of 1537 Spanish adults, 73.6% were females, 26.4% males, age between 18-88 yearsold (M = 42.56; SD = 16.29). The emo-tions of gratitude were found to mediate therelationship between subjec-tive happiness and satisfaction with life and between positiveaffect and satisfaction with life. Of the variables studied, positive affect is the most related tosatisfaction with life, followed by subjective happiness and emo-tions of gratitude. Maleparticipants are more satisfied with life when they feel the less negative affect. Regardingmediation models, emotions of grat-itude mediate the relationship between subjectivehappiness and satisfac-tion with life and between positive affect and satisfaction with life. Themaindifferenceis thatemotions of gratitudearestronger infemalesthan in males.(AU)

Trait emotional intelligence mediates the dispositional gratitude and subjective well-being in young adults.

Gratitude has proved to be an enhancer of subjective well-being in previous studies. However, studies that linked the relation between emotional intelligence and its facets when interacting with gratitude, are still limited. In this sense, this study examined the mediating roles of emotional intelligence between gratitude and subjective well-being indicators, by introducing the general factor of emotional intelligence. The first approach to data analysis was to examine the descriptive statistics; the second approach consisted of an Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling, applying also a bifactor analysis. Data was collected from 406 Spanish students, through an online survey that includes the gratitude, trait meta mood scale, satisfaction with life and subjective happiness scale. The mean age of participants was 20.27 years (SD = 4.68), whereas 79.5% were females. The results provided preliminary evidence of the mediation role of the general factor of emotional intelligence between gratitude and subjective well-being, which provided a meaningful insight about the role of trait emotional intelligence. These findings suggested that gratitude promotes emotional intelligence, allowing to an increase in subjective well-being. Nonetheless, there is a need for further research to achieve a better understanding of the role of the emotional intelligence facets between gratitude and subjective well-being.

Development of a gratitude intervention model and investigation of the effects of such a program on employee well-being, engagement, job satisfaction and psychological capital.

BACKGROUND: In a demanding working life, it is important to determine how individuals can thrive at work. In a previous study we investigated whether a program of gratitude interventions can increase psychological wellbeing, engagement, job satisfaction, and psychological capital showing promising results. THE OBJECTIVE: of the present study was to present the development of a manager coached group intervention program related to gratitude at workplaces and to investigate the effects of such a program on the same variables. METHODS: The intervention included five group sessions of gratitude dialogue between employees, supervised by their first line managers. Participants were assigned to an intervention or control group. Assessments were made before and after the intervention program and followed-up at 6 months post-intervention. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. Both groups completed instruments measuring positive psychological capital (PCQ), work engagement (UWES), psychological wellbeing (PGWB-S), and job satisfaction (aJDI). All managers were interviewed after the intervention. RESULT: Compared with the control group the gratitude dialogue intervention was found to significantly enhance psychological wellbeing, engagement, and job satisfaction. The results were supported by the interviews with managers. IN CONCLUSION: our results suggest that gratitude dialogues at work may be an effective way of improving employee wellbeing. Suggestions on how to improve the results from this kind of gratitude intervention further are presented.

Leader's ethical behavior: A precursor to employees' well-being through emotions management.

Contemporary research in leadership demonstrates that the ethical behaviors of leaders are vital to enhancing employee well-being. Despite this, research is scant on the connection between leaders' ethical practices and the well-being of their employees via employee emotions. Relying on affective events theory, this study, directly and indirectly, examined the relationships between leaders' ethical behaviors and employees' well-being (via employee emotions). Furthermore, it investigated employee core self-evaluations as a substitute for the ethical behaviors of leaders that mitigate the influence of leaders' ethical behaviors. A sample of 398 faculties from 20 public universities in Pakistan was chosen using the simple random sampling approach, and then SPSS Process Macro was applied to the sample. Study results indicate that leaders' ethical behaviors facilitate employees to manage their emotions, and effective management of emotions improves their well-being. The research also revealed that employees' core self-evaluation swapped with the ethical behaviors of leaders. The theoretical model, therefore, confirms the significance of EBOL as a strategic resource and employees' CSE as an interpersonal resource, which accentuates one another to manage employees' emotions and promote their well-being. The study offers practical management ramifications and adds to our understanding of EBOL, employee emotions, and well-being.

Cultivating a Culture of Gratitude and Recognition Among Nurses and Staff on a Blood and Marrow Transplantation Unit.

OBJECTIVES: To measure baseline work gratitude among nurses and staff on a blood and marrow transplantation unit; to evaluate the impact of a positive workplace recognition intervention on work gratitude, sense of belonging and community, and job satisfaction; and to explore the relationships among these variables and job satisfaction. SAMPLE & SETTING: In total, 40 survey responses (preintervention =24, postintervention = 16) were collected from nurses and staff on a blood and marrow transplantation unit at a large academic hospital. METHODS & VARIABLES: A pre- and postintervention survey included a demographic questionnaire and the Work Gratitude Scale. Public-facing digital signage was installed and used to project positive recognition, including expressions of gratitude from patients and staff. RESULTS: Those with higher job satisfaction and a stronger sense of belonging and community reported higher work gratitude scores. There were no significant changes in job satisfaction, sense of belonging and community, and work gratitude scores. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Creating a positive work environment through gratitude and positive recognition could increase job satisfaction and sense of belonging and community among nurses and staff.

Counteract Anhedonia! Introducing an Online-Training to Enhance Reward Experiencing - A Pilot Study.

Background: Anhedonia is a risk factor for a severe course of depression but is often not adequately addressed in psychotherapy. This study presents the Training to Enhance Reward Experience (T-REx), a novel self-help approach that uses savoring and mental imagery to target impairments in reward experience associated with anhedonia. We aimed to examine feasibility and acceptability of T-REx and exploratively investigated its effects on anhedonia and other clinical variables. Method: In an online, randomized controlled trial, 79 subjects participated for five days in T-REx or the active control condition Gratitude Writing (GW). We assessed changes in anhedonia, depression, and active behavior at inclusion, after the waiting period, post-intervention and at follow-up. The intervention effects were examined for the full sample and an anhedonic sub-sample. Results: T-REx and GW were equally feasible and clearly accepted by the sample. Both interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms and increased behavioral activation. Although there was no significant main effect of the interventions, between-group differences were observed for depressive symptoms and active behavior at post-intervention and follow-up, favoring T-REx. Further, within-group changes for T-REx were larger than for GW. The observed effects had a greater magnitude in the anhedonic sub-sample, suggesting that individuals with more pronounced anhedonic symptoms derived greater benefit from the interventions. Discussion: This first study of T-REx provides promising results that should prompt further investigations of T-REx in clinical samples. The results suggest that T-REx has a positive effect on depression symptoms and active behavior. Further, its potential as a valuable adjunct to behavioral activation interventions is discussed.

Facilitation or hindrance? The impact of downward social comparison on adversarial growth.

Introduction: While adversity can bring great challenges to individuals' life and work, many people also find ways to make positive changes and adapt to these difficult circumstances. Individuals tend to make social comparisons more frequently and intensely when faced with adversity or high stress. The study attempts to examine the influence mechanism of downward social comparison on individual adversarial growth. Methods: By collecting data from 353 Chinese who have experienced adversities in the past 3 years, the study validates the dual mediating model of gratitude and self-acceptance and explores the moderating effect of interpersonal sensitivity. Results: The findings indicate that: downward social comparison can increase the occurrence of adversarial growth by enhancing individuals' self-acceptance and gratitude. Compared to individuals with low interpersonal sensitivity, individuals with high interpersonal sensitivity are more likely to facilitate the occurrence of adversarial growth through self-acceptance and gratitude due to downward social comparison. Discussion: In the face of adversity, individuals can regain self-confidence and respond positively by comparing themselves to people in worse situations than themselves. In particular, individuals with higher interpersonal sensitivity are more likely to benefit from downward social comparisons and grow from adversity.

Gratitude and depressive symptoms in Chinese nurses: From a self-determination theory perspective.

BACKGROUND: A common psychological problem among nurses is depression, potentially affecting their well-being and job performance. It is vital to explore how to alleviate nurses' depressive symptoms. AIM: The current research explored the mediating impact of basic psychological needs satisfaction on the link of gratitude with depressive symptoms. METHODS: The nurses in this study were from mainland China. A total of 724 subjects completed an online questionnaire, which included measures of depressive symptoms, basic psychological needs satisfaction and gratitude. RESULTS: Our research found that gratitude was negatively linked to depressive symptoms. Furthermore, basic psychological needs satisfaction had a partial mediation effect on the link of gratitude with depressive symptoms after controlling for five demographic variables. These results suggest that gratitude may influence depressive symptoms via basic psychological needs satisfaction. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Our study found that basic psychological need satisfaction partially mediates the gratitude-depression relationship in nurses. The result means that hospital administrators and nurse leaders should design gratitude interventions to alleviate nurses' depressive symptoms. They also help nurses decrease depressive symptoms by creating an environment that meets their basic psychological needs.

Gratitude Predicts Meaning in Life in Family Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer's Disease.

Gratitude is a well-known and researched internal positive psychological resource. Empirical data, however, on the association between gratitude, meaning in life, and burden in family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease is scant. The aims of this study were to (1) investigate the relationships among these variables in a sample of family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's; and (2) determine if gratitude mediates the effects of perceived burden on meaning in life in this population. One-hundred and twenty-six adult family caregivers, most of whom were an intimate partner or adult child of a person with Alzheimer's, completed the Gratitude Questionnaire-Six Item, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Zarit Burden Inventory, and other relevant measures. A series of OLS regression models, guided by the caregiver stress process model, were conducted. These analyses demonstrated that gratitude was a predictor of the presence of meaning in life among the caregivers in this study even when other key variables were considered. Furthermore, analyses revealed that gratitude fully mediated the effects of caregiver burden on the presence of meaning in life in this sample. Thus, clinicians should consider gratitude as an important internal resource for cultivating meaning in life in this population, especially when caregiver burden is present. Gratitude-bolstering clinical interventions should be further developed and tested as both stand-alone and complimentary additions to empirically supported psychoeducational approaches for supporting health and well-being in this population.

Self-Forgiveness and Gratitude in Recovery from Substance Use Disorders.

Substance use is a multifaceted disorder of the whole person that is manifested on three levels: intrapersonal, interpersonal, and spiritual. Previous research has demonstrated that self-forgiveness and gratitude help build personal and social resources and reinforce the process of recovery from substance use disorders. The aims of the present narrative review article were to (a) explore self-forgiveness and gratitude as psychological mechanisms of behavioral change in recovery through the lens of positive criminology and recovery capital approach, (b) review the practice of self-forgiveness and gratitude in the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) programs, and (c) present a conceptual model of self-forgiveness and gratitude in long-term recovery. Self-forgiveness and gratitude have been described as positive emotions and prosocial, empathy-based moral virtues that enhance well-being and health by reinforcing the establishment and maintenance of long-lasting positive relationships with self, others, and spirituality. This effect may occur through different levels and psychological mechanisms. This article contributes to the field by presenting the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and spiritual benefits associated with self-forgiveness and gratitude interventions that can initiate and sustain long-term recovery.

Gratitude promotes prosocial behavior even in uncertain situation.

Gratitude is pivotal in promoting and maintaining prosocial interactions in human society. However, it is unclear whether the prosocial function of gratitude can be observed even in situations of uncertainty about whether one can provide benefits to others. Here, we examined whether gratitude promotes prosocial behavior in uncertain situations. Participants (N = 60) were randomly assigned to either a gratitude or neutral group. Following the emotion-induced manipulation, we examined whether participants would choose a non-unique resource when selecting one of four resources (one unique and three non-unique) to leave the choice to the follower. This represented an uncertain situation in which choosing a non-unique resource does not necessarily mean the follower will choose the unique one. Results showed that participants in the gratitude group were more likely to choose non-unique resources than those in the neutral group, suggesting that gratitude promotes prosocial behavior even in uncertain situations. Our findings indicate that gratitude is widely prevalent as a lubricant for interpersonal and cooperative relationships in human society.

What Do We Know About the Influence of Believers' Religiosity on Happiness and Gratitude? - A Perspective for Clinical Practice.

Introduction: The recognition of religion's significance in mental health has led to several scientific advances in diagnosis or treatment. In contrast, Vietnam is a multi-religious Southeast Asian country with a large number of believers, but there is almost no research addressing the impact of religiosity among Vietnamese believers on mental health concerns such as depression, happiness, and gratitude. Participants and Methods: Our cross-sectional study was focused on Vietnamese believers (N = 374), surveyed directly at different religious facilities in Vietnam. The present study was evaluated utilizing the partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) methodology. Results: The primary findings of the study indicate that (i) age was found to positively moderate the association between intrinsic religiosity and gratitude (ß = 0.191, 95% CI [0.116, 0.277], p < 0.001); (ii) Intrinsic religiosity has a positive influence on depression-happiness scale (ß = 0.276, 95% CI [0.168, 0.373], p < 0.001) and gratitude (ß = 0.337, 95% CI [0.205, 0.466], p < 0.001); Moreover, (iii) gratitude has a positive influence on depression-happiness scale (ß = 0.381, 95% CI [0.280, 0.491], p < 0.001); Finally, (iv) the study revealed that gratitude mediates the relationship between intrinsic religiosity and depression-happiness scale (ß = 0.128, 95% CI [0.071, 0.197], p < 0.001). Discussion: The findings of this study suggest that gratitude could potentially play a significant role in comprehending the association between religiosity and the levels of depression and happiness experienced by religious individuals in Vietnam.

A Longitudinal Study of Adherence among Cystic Fibrosis Patients: Associations with Gratitude Over the Course of One Year.

BACKGROUND: Daily airway clearance therapy (ACT) is a critical aspect of treatment in cystic fibrosis (CF), but poor adherence is a prominent concern. Identifying factors that might enhance or diminish adherence is a priority for treatment centers. Gratitude, a generalized tendency to notice and appreciate positive facets of experience, is a psychosocial resource that has commanded growing research interest. This longitudinal study examined whether gratitude at baseline was associated with ongoing or persistent ACT adherence over the course of a year. METHODS: Trait gratitude was evaluated at baseline using a validated measure, among adults receiving care at a regional CF treatment center. Self-reported adherence to ACT was assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months using the Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Questionnaire. Average age of participants was 27.2 years, 45.5% were women, and 19.7% had severe disease. RESULTS: In multivariable logistic regression models that accounted for disease severity (Forced Expiratory Volume1% predicted) and other clinical and demographic variables, individuals with higher baseline gratitude were significantly more likely to demonstrate persistent adherence over the course of the year. Gratitude remained predictive after additionally adjusting for other well-known psychosocial resource variables (social support and emotional well-being). CONCLUSION: This is among the first demonstrations that gratitude is associated with persistent self-reported adherence to treatment over time. Findings suggest that gratitude may be important psychosocial resource for adults with CF, as they contend with complex, highly burdensome treatment regimens. Further research is warranted to examine these relationships and their impact on downstream health outcomes.

Meta-analysis of the association between gratitude and loneliness.

Gratitude is a positive social emotion that involves recognizing that others have brought benefits into one's life. Loneliness, on the other hand, is an unpleasant emotion resulting from a perceived lack of social connectedness. Although previous studies have reported an inverse association between gratitude and loneliness, these studies have not been systematically examined in a single review. To address this gap in the literature, we conducted a random-effects meta-analysis to examine the association between gratitude and loneliness. Analysis of 26 studies revealed a moderate sized effect (mean Fisher's z transformed correlation, zr = -.406, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -.463, -.349; mean back-transformed correlation, r = -.385, 95% CI = -.433, -.335). To complement these effect sizes, we calculated a probability-based common language effect size for correlations. Random-effects homogeneity testing suggested the presence of effect size heterogeneity. Analyses of both continuous and categorical moderators were non-significant, indicating that these variables did not influence effect size magnitude. Furthermore, publication bias tests suggested that our results were not influenced by unpublished studies. Finally, we proposed several statistical and clinical recommendations for future research. Regarding the latter, we offered suggestions for modifying gratitude enhancement programs with the aim of reducing loneliness.

The influence of athletes' gratitude on burnout: the sequential mediating roles of the coach-athlete relationship and hope.

Background: Athlete burnout is a widespread psychological syndrome in competitive sports, negatively impacts athletes' competitive state and hampers the healthy development of sports organizations. With the rise of positive psychology, exploring the mechanisms of athlete psychological fatigue through the lens of psychological capital has become a focal point of recent research. This study introduces gratitude, a key element of psychological capital in positive psychology, to examine its effect on athlete burnout and its mechanism of action, with a particular focus on the sequential mediating roles of the coach-athlete relationship (CAR) and hope. Method: A cross-sectional study design was utilized, involving 483 active Chinese athletes from national training teams and professional sports teams. The sample comprised both male (n=251) and female (n=232) athletes, with an average age of 19.24 ± 3.99 years. Participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires, including the Gratitude Questionnaire, CAR Questionnaire, Hope Questionnaire, and Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling in AMOS 24.0 and descriptive statistics and correlation analyses in SPSS 20.0 were employed for data analysis. Results: The study revealed significant associations between athlete gratitude, CAR, hope, and athlete burnout. Notably, gratitude was found to both directly and indirectly (via CAR and hope) influence burnout levels among athletes, suggesting a sequential mediation effect. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of positive psychological constructs in buffering against athlete burnout. Specifically, gratitude, alongside a supportive CAR and elevated levels of hope, may play crucial roles in mitigating burnout symptoms. These insights offer promising directions for the development of targeted intervention strategies aimed at fostering athlete well-being and performance, advocating for the integration of positive psychology principles in the management and prevention of athlete burnout.

The influence of gratitude and personality traits on career resilience and career success among college students.

Introduction: The study examines the interplay between gratitude and career success, with career resilience as the mediating mechanism and personality traits, i.e., conscientiousness and extraversion, as moderating factors. The overarching goal is to enhance our understanding of the complex dynamics that influence career outcomes of college students in China. Methods: Data are gathered through a survey-based technique, capturing responses from a diverse sample of participants. The analysis employs Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to explore the relationships among gratitude, career resilience, personality traits, and career success. Results: The results reveal that gratitude impacts students' career success through the mediating mechanism of career resilience. In addition, conscientiousness and extraversion are found to positively intervene the direct effect between gratitude and career resilience and the indirect effect between gratitude and career success through career resilience. Discussion: The findings offer valuable insights for individuals, organizations, and career development practitioners, emphasizing the importance of cultivating gratitude and recognizing the differential impact of personality traits on this process. As organizations seek to foster resilient and successful career paths, acknowledging these nuanced dynamics can inform targeted interventions and strategies.

A study on the double-edged sword effect of inclusive leadership on employees' work behaviour-dual path perspective of cognition and affection.

In order to cope with the volatile social environment and organisational change, more and more scholars call on leaders to stimulate subordinate effectiveness to a greater extent with inclusive behaviour. Existing studies focus on the positive impact of inclusive leadership, but ignore its potential negative impact. This study integrates Cognition-affection Personality System Theory to explore the double-edged sword mechanism of inclusive leadership on subordinates' work behaviour. Through the data analysis of 518 paired questionnaires collected in three stages, the results are as follows: Inclusive leadership has a positive impact on subordinates' psychological entitlement and state gratitude; Psychological entitlement and state gratitude play mediation roles not only between inclusive leadership and work withdrawal behaviour, but also between inclusive leadership and active behaviour; Subordinate narcissistic personality moderates the positive effect of inclusive leadership on psychological entitlement and state gratitude, and then moderates the indirect effect of inclusive leadership on subordinate work withdrawal behaviour and proactive behaviour through psychological entitlement and state gratitude. The above results expand the research on the action mechanism and boundary conditions of inclusive leadership in Chinese organisational context, and provide practical guidance for organisational managers to effectively conduct inclusive leadership.

Gratitude practice helps undergraduates who experienced an earthquake in China find meaning in life.

This study was conducted following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that occurred in early September 2022, coinciding with the commencement of a positive psychology course for the affected students. A sample of 479 Chinese undergraduates was recruited for an intervention focused on weekly gratitude practice. Data were collected through an online questionnaire package at 3 time points: the first week of the course (Time 1), the fifth week (Time 2), and the ninth week (Time 3), assessing gratitude, learning engagement, and the meaning of life. Findings revealed that gratitude significantly predicted meaning in life through learning engagement over time. This highlights the significant mediating role of learning engagement in the context of earthquakes and provides insights for positive interventions aimed at facilitating personal growth among emerging adults in higher educational settings, particularly those who have experienced traumatic events such as earthquakes.

Gratitude interventions to improve wellbeing and resilience of graduate nurses transitioning to practice: A scoping review.

Background: New graduate nurses are the nursing cohort at greatest risk for turnover and attrition in every context internationally. This has possibly been heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workplace conditions significantly impact nursing turnover; however, interventions under the positive psychology umbrella may have a mediating impact on the intention to leave. New graduate nurses are generally challenged most in their first three years of clinical practice, and the need for support to transition is widely accepted. Gratitude practice has been reported to improve individual control and resilient response to setbacks and, therefore, is of interest in testing if this intervention can impact turnover intention in the workforce. Objective: To report on a scoping review undertaken to identify whether 'gratitude practice' as an intervention had the potential to improve new graduate nurses' wellbeing and resilience. Methods: Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review approach. Primary research papers of any methodology, published in English between January 2010 and July 2022 were included. Literature was sourced from seven databases, including CINAHL PLUS, ERIC, MEDLINE, Professional Development Collection, APA PsychInfo, APA PsychArticles, and Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Collection. Results: We identified 130 records, of which we selected 35 for inclusion. A large range of interventions were identified; most had some form of writing, journaling, or diarising. The next most common intervention was teaching gratitude strategies via workshops, and many interventions had some form of list or activity trigger for participants to complete. Five studies had complex combined interventions, while the rest were simple, easily reproducible interventions. Interventions were delivered both face-to-face or asynchronously, with some being online only and others sent out as a 'kit' for participants to work through. Conclusion: Our review of existing literature shows a significant gap in research on gratitude practice and its impact on nursing populations. To ensure robust future studies, we suggest defining concepts clearly and selecting outcome measures and tools that are not closely related. Intervention design may not be as important as the choice of measures and tools to measure outcomes.

Better emotion regulation mediates gratitude and increased stress in undergraduate students across a university semester.

It is well established that university students are vulnerable to poor mental health. Although increased gratitude has been shown to reduce stress among students, a clearer understanding of key mechanisms underpinning this relationship are needed to better inform theoretical models and potential interventions targeted at improving well-being in university students. The present study provides the first direct test of whether capacity for emotion regulation mediates the relationship of gratitude with stress at the beginning and middle of the academic semester. This study is also the first to assess this relationship in a cross-lagged panel mediation model. We used a repeated measures design and a total of 343 undergraduate students completed two online surveys with validated measures of gratitude, stress, and emotion regulation-one at the beginning and the second in the middle of the academic semester. Results showed that emotion regulation mediated the relationship between gratitude and stress at the beginning of semester, and again 6 weeks later. A Clogg's z-score test suggested that the strength of the indirect effect significantly increased across the two time points. A post-hoc cross-lagged panel model found that high gratitude at the beginning of the semester predicted low stress in the middle of the semester via emotion regulation. These data provide novel evidence that emotion regulation may serve as a key protective factor against undergraduate stress. The results provide evidence to support leading theories on how gratitude can reduce stress and promote well-being in university students. They also highlight the practical importance of strengthening emotion regulation abilities in university students and can be used to inform future targeted interventions to improve well-being in university students.