A Perspective on Mature Gratitude as a Way of Coping With COVID-19

Jans-Beken, Lilian

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.632911

Cited by 33 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…First is to empower young people to use the COVID-19 outbreak as a catapult for redefining and acquiring a deeper sense of purpose in their lives. Jans-Beken [ 87 ] refers to this attitude as “mature gratitude” and views it as a method for coping with the threat associated with adversity or times of crisis. She indicates that building an attitude of mature gratitude through acts of kindness, expressing thanks for life and God, and loving the small things in life can support individuals in coping with COVID-19 confusion and developing lifelong resilience for the future.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived Consequences of Extended Social Isolation on Mental Well-Being: Narratives from Indonesian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Rahiem

Krauss

Ersing

2021

IJERPH

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Despite several recent studies reporting on young people’s well-being during COVID-19, few large-scale qualitative studies have been carried out that capture the experiences of young people from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) undergoing extended social restrictions. The challenges faced by young people from LMICs during COVID-19 are likely to be amplified by their countries’ large populations, resource constraints, lack of access to health care, living conditions, socio-spatial contexts, and the pandemic’s ramifications for communities. This study explored how youths perceived their well-being after being isolated for one-and-a-half years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative narrative research was employed as a method of inquiry. One-hundred and sixty-six university students in Jakarta, Indonesia, between the ages of 17 and 22 wrote reflective online essays on the consequences of extended pandemic isolation on their mental health. This data collection strategy offered an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon through the narratives of those who experienced it. Seven themes expressing the youths’ perceived well-being were identified through inductive reflective thematic analysis: (1) the anguish of loneliness and estrangement; (2) a state of “brokenness” resulting from emotional agony and distress; (3) frustration, confusion, and anger; (4) the experience of conflicting emotions; (5) uncertainty about both the present and future; (6) a sense of purpose and fulfillment; and (7) turning to faith. The findings provide important insights into Indonesian youths’ well-being following extended social restrictions following the outbreak. Their collective experiences can be used to inform policy and practice regarding the nature of support mechanisms required both during and following the pandemic, and in the future if such a situation were to occur again.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived Consequences of Extended Social Isolation on Mental Well-Being: Narratives from Indonesian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Rahiem

Krauss

Ersing

2021

IJERPH

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“…A disposition of gratitude was related to higher resilience and a more adaptive reaction to negative events related to the pandemic, while it also predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms and perceived stress ( Wolfe, 2021 ). Gratitude was also studied as a coping style that leads to favorable outcomes in the threatening time of the COVID-19 pandemic ( Jans-Beken, 2021 ). Although our study did not consider the circumstances of the pandemic, it considered a population at a fragile stage of life with compromised wellbeing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gratitude Can Help Women At-Risk for Depression Accept Their Depressive Symptoms, Which Leads to Improved Mental Health

2022

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IntroductionGratitude is commonly known as a positive emotion, but it can also be understood as a disposition—one’s inherent quality that includes being grateful for the positive aspects of one’s life and appreciating altruistic gifts. A growing body of research suggests that having a disposition of gratitude is positively related to wellbeing and psychological adjustment. The present study examined the extent to which acceptance of illness—a measure of adjustment to a distressing condition—mediated relationships between dispositional gratitude and wellbeing among women who had elevated levels of depressive symptoms.MethodsParticipants were 131 women who, based on scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, were at-risk for experiencing clinical depression. Thirty-five of these participants had been diagnosed as depressed at some point in their lives and 96 had not. Participants completed measures of dispositional gratitude, wellbeing, anxiety, and acceptance of illness.ResultsDispositional gratitude was positively correlated with wellbeing and was negatively correlated with depression and anxiety. Dispositional gratitude was also positively correlated with acceptance of illness. Mediational analyses found that acceptance of illness mediated relationships between dispositional gratitude and wellbeing, between dispositional gratitude and anxiety, and between dispositional gratitude and depression. Moreover, such mediation varied as a function of whether women had ever been diagnosed as depressed. Acceptance of illness was related more strongly to wellbeing for women who had been diagnosed as depressed at some time in their lives than it was for women who had never been diagnosed as depressed.ConclusionWomen with elevated depressive symptoms who were more grateful (compared to those who were less grateful) were more accepting of their condition, which was related to increased wellbeing and decreased feelings of depression and anxiety.

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“…Gratitude was identified as a coping strategy by participants. Jans‐Beken ( 2021 ) discusses how cultivating an attitude of mature gratitude through acts of kindness, expressing gratitude, and enjoying the small things helps people cope and builds resilience. The occupational therapists in this study expressed their gratitude and enjoyed the small things to help them manage and maintain their occupational balance during the COVID‐19 restrictions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID‐19 restrictions on occupational balance: A mixed method study of the experience of Australian occupational therapists

Tse

Roberts

Garvie

et al. 2021

Aus Occup Therapy J

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Introduction COVID‐19 has seen unprecedented changes to the daily occupational lives of citizens across the globe as a result social and physical restrictions. Frontline healthcare workers health and wellbeing have been impacted but what of occupational balance? The aim of this study was to investigate if there was a change in the occupational balance of occupational therapists working in a metropolitan hospital during a COVID‐19 lockdown. Methods All occupational therapists working in a metropolitan hospital were invited to participate in an online survey. Occupational Balance was measured using the Occupational Balance Questionnaire‐11 (OBQ11). Participants retrospectively rated their occupational balance before COVID‐19 restrictions were in place and again rated their current status during the restrictions. Participants were also asked to comment on strategies used to help them during the COVID‐19 restrictions. Results Forty‐two occupational therapists completed the survey. The mean total score prior to the COVID‐19 restrictions was 19.4 and during restrictions was 19.0 (Z = −0.4, p = 0.68). There was a significant decrease in having sufficient to do during the COVID‐19 restrictions (Z = −3.6, p < 0.001). Satisfaction with how time was spent in rest, recovery and sleep significantly increased during the restrictions (Z = −3.3, p = 0.001). Strategies used included engaging in valued activities, finding alternate ways of doing and showing gratitude. Conclusion Occupational balance of occupational therapists remained high and satisfaction in how time was spent improved during COVID‐19 restrictions. Occupational therapists implemented their own theoretical approach of adaptation to cope with the COVID‐19 restrictions.

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A Perspective on Mature Gratitude as a Way of Coping With COVID-19

Cited by 33 publications

References 60 publications

Perceived Consequences of Extended Social Isolation on Mental Well-Being: Narratives from Indonesian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Perceived Consequences of Extended Social Isolation on Mental Well-Being: Narratives from Indonesian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Gratitude Can Help Women At-Risk for Depression Accept Their Depressive Symptoms, Which Leads to Improved Mental Health

The impact of COVID‐19 restrictions on occupational balance: A mixed method study of the experience of Australian occupational therapists

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