How to become more grateful? The mediating role of resilience between empathy and gratitude

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between empathy, resilience, and gratitude. Specifically, the study investigated the potential mediating role of resilience between empathy and gratitude. The study involved 214 participants who completed the Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Test-Revised (GRAT-R), the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy (QCAE), and the Resilience Measurement Scale (SPP-25). The results showed significant positive correlations among resilience, empathy, and gratitude. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that resilience, gender, and affective empathy were direct predictors of the level of gratitude. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis supported the hypothesis that resilience played a mediating role between empathy and gratitude. Implications for research and the promotion of positive psychology programs for adults are discussed.

Effect of Different Types of Empathy on Prosocial Behavior: Gratitude as Mediator

“…We found that perspective-taking could positively predict prosocial behaviors of college students in China, which is consistent with previous research ( Ding and Song, 2017 ; Chen et al, 2020 ; Lasota et al, 2020 ). A possible reason for this outcome is that perspective-taking enables an individual to make flexible reappraisals of social situations, facilitating more harmonious social interactions and prosocial behavior ( Wolgast et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Meanwhile, the Broaden-and-Build theory of positive emotions suggests that gratitude is a positive emotion that can increase individuals’ mental flexibility, help construct psychological resources, and motivate prosocial behavior ( Fredrickson, 2001 , 2004 ). When individuals are in a positive emotional state, they will have a stronger prosocial motivation that inspires their prosocial behavior ( Chen et al, 2020 ; Lasota et al, 2020 ; Yang et al, 2021 ). Nevertheless, no studies have examined gratitude as a potential mechanism that underlies the associations among different types of empathy and prosocial behaviors among Chinese college students.…”

Cross-Cultural Comparison of Relationships between Empathy and Implicit Theories of Emotions (in Chinese and Russians)

“…A series of recent observational studies directly examined the relationships between empathy and other components of emotional and personality domains: e.g., emotional intelligence [24,25], emotional regulation [26,27], and resilience [27]. Interestingly, empathy is frequently viewed as a component of emotional intelligence, and if the latter is viewed as a non-cognitive ability, so is the former [28].…”

A Study on Gender Difference of High School Students’ Ability in Literature Appreciation under Emotional Education System

“…From education, the result of a peace education program revealed that Jewish and Arab female high school students were more dovish than the males to use peaceful and diplomatic methods to gain their achievements or face conflicts [28]. And consisted with past studies, most females reported positive attitudes and gratitude than males [29]. For having greater empathized ability which has been found its ways for having impacts into mainstream practices (e.g., customer service; [30]), it is female's gift to understand and have heartresonances with others' experience and feelings not only narrowed in reality but towards emotions literary works want to express by words for having functions and abilities to invoke people's imaginations (e.g., sympathy).…”