Gratitude, Life Satisfaction, and Well-Being: Unpacking the Power of Positive Emotions and Optimism in Young Adults

Abstract

The current study investigates the connection between gratitude and life satisfaction, focusing on the role of positive emotions as a mediator and optimism as a moderator. Based on established theories, including Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory, the results suggest that gratitude is strongly associated with life satisfaction, largely by fostering positive emotions such as joy, contentment, and hope. Satisfaction with life scale, Positive and Negative Affect schedule, Life Orientation Test revised and gratitude questionnaire was utlilized in the present study. Additionally, the study reveals that optimism enhances the impact of gratitude, further boosting life satisfaction. These findings contribute to the expanding field of positive psychology, highlighting how gratitude, positive emotions, and optimism interact to improve well-being. While the study has some limitations, such as the use of self-reported data and a cross-sectional design, it offers valuable insights and sets the stage for future research. Future studies could delve deeper into these relationships across diverse cultural settings and explore ways to cultivate gratitude and optimism through interventions to enhance life satisfaction.