Gratitude uniquely predicts lower depression in chronic illness populations: A longitudinal study of inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis.

Abstract

Objective: Although gratitude has been identified as a key clinically relevant trait for improving well-being, it is understudied within medical populations. The current study addressed this gap and extended previous and limited cross-sectional research by examining the longitudinal associations of gratitude to depression in two chronic illness samples, arthritis and IBD. Results: At T2, 57.2 percent of the arthritis sample and 53.4 percent of the IBD sample met the cut off scores for significant depression. T1 gratitude was negatively associated with depressive symptoms at T1 and T2 in both samples (r's from -.43 to -.50). Regression analyses revealed that T1 gratitude remained a significant and unique predictor of lower T2 depression after controlling for T1 depression, relevant demographic variables, illness cognitions, changes in illness-relevant variables, and another positive psychological construct, thriving, in both samples. Conclusion:As the first investigation of the longitudinal associations of gratitude to psychological well-being in the context of chronic illness, the current study provides important evidence for the relevance of gratitude for health-related clinical populations. Further intervention-based research is warranted to more fully understand the potential benefits of gratitude for adjustment to chronic illness.

Gratitude and Life Satisfaction: Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

“…Gratitude uniquely contributes to both satisfaction with life and psychological well-being after controlling for both the domains and facets of the five-factor model of personality (Wood et al, 2008a;). Additionally, recent longitudinal studies on the associations of gratitude to psychological well-being in the context of chronic illness revealed that gratitude uniquely predicts lower depression six months apart (Sirois & Wood, 2017). Studies using cross-lagged panel design on healthy individuals also revealed similar results.…”

Personality and sleep quality: Evidence from four prospective studies.

“…In line with the common approach of including baseline values as covariates to examine longitudinal change (Shankar & Hinds, in press; Sirois & Wood, 2017), we also examined the association between personality and changes in sleep quality in regression models with personality at baseline as a predictor of sleep at follow-up, including sleep at baseline and demographic variables as covariates. Baseline sleep medication and depressive symptoms were further controlled in supplemental analyses.…”

Gratitude mediates quality of life differences between fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls

“…A growing evidence base indicates that gratitude, an orientation towards noticing and appreciating the positive in life [13], may be particularly beneficial for improving quality of life in clinical populations, including those with chronic health conditions. As a trait construct, gratitude is associated with lower levels of depression in those with heart failure and breast cancer [14,15], and longitudinally predicts lower depression in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis [16]. Gratitude is also associated with enhanced quality of life in arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes [17], and better self-rated health, in people with inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis [16].…”

“…As a trait construct, gratitude is associated with lower levels of depression in those with heart failure and breast cancer [14,15], and longitudinally predicts lower depression in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis [16]. Gratitude is also associated with enhanced quality of life in arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes [17], and better self-rated health, in people with inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis [16]. Yet to date, gratitude has not been specifically examined with respect to quality of life in FMS.…”