Vishal Sharma
Jagannath University, Bahadurgarh, Haryana
Ravinder Kumar
Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburagi.
Pages: 184-197
Previous research has linked gratitude and self-compassion to mental health,
predominantly within adult populations. However, studies examining these factors in
adolescent populations, particularly in India, remain limited. The current research intends
to examine how gratitude (GRT) and self-compassion (SCP) contribute to protecting
against mental health problems (MHP). Additionally, it examines whether gratitude
moderates the connection between SCP and MHP. The research was conducted with
a sample of 269 adolescents (158 males and 111 females) aged 13 to 19 years.
Participants filled out the Gratitude Questionnaire, the Youth Version of the Self
Compassion Scale, and the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30). The results
indicated that the subscales of the Self-Compassion Scale, as well as the overall self
compassion score, were significantly correlated with various dimensions and the total
score of the GHQ-30. Gratitude was found to have a negative association with overall
mental health problems and with all GHQ-30 subscales, except for depression.
Additionally, the self-judgment dimension of SCP emerged as a strong predictor of
depression, anxiety and overall mental health problems. Other self-compassion
subscales, such as mindfulness, isolation, over-identification, and common humanity,
also predicted different GHQ-30 subscales and overall mental health issues. Gratitude,
in turn, predicted social dysfunction, anxiety, somatic symptoms, and overall mental
health problems. The findings also suggest that the connection between SCP and
MHP is moderated by GRT, with increased GRT diminishing the effect of SCP on MHP.
Based on these findings, it can be concluded that mental health professionals should
consider the role of gratitude when using interventions based on self-compassion.