Mediating role of resilience on the link between gratitude and purpose in life among University undergraduates

Abstract

The present study examined the mediating role of resilience on the link between gratitude and purpose in life. Three hundred and thirty-two (332) undergraduates comprising 144 males and 188 females (Mean age = 17.42, SD = 1.27) selected from Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, participated in the study. Three measures were used in the study: The Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Test-Short Form (GRAT-SF), the Resilience Scale (RS), and the Purpose in Life-Short Form (PIL-SF). Hayes regression-based PROCESS macro results revealed that gratitude did not significantly predict purpose in life (B = .00, p > .05). Resilience positively and significantly predicted purpose in life (B = .51, p < .001). However, resilience significantly mediated the relationship between gratitude and purpose in life (95% CI = .04, .14). The study discussed the implication of the findings for clinicians, school counselors, and psychologists at large.