Gratitude Predicts Well-being Mediated by Social Support and Sense of Coherence in Women

Objective: We investigated how social support and sense of coherence mediate the relationship between gratitude and well-being. Methods: We conducted a survey in July 2014 (T1) and September 2014 (T2). The participants were 164 Japanese university student women. They completed the questionnaire measuring gratitude at T1, and social support, sense of coherence, happiness, life satisfaction, and positive and negative affects at T2. Results: Gratitude was associated with both emotional and instrumental social support, but only emotional social support was positively associated with sense of coherence. Sense of coherence was positively associated with happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect, and negatively associated with negative affect. Conclusions: These results indicate that gratitude enhances well-being, mediated by emotional social support and sense of coherence.