title: Gratitude and depressive symptoms: the role of positive reframing and positive emotion.
abstract: Eight studies (N=2,973) tested the theory that gratitude is related to fewer depressive symptoms through positive reframing and positive emotion. Study 1 found a direct path between gratitude and depressive symptoms. Studies 2-5 demonstrated that positive reframing mediated the relationship between gratitude and depressive symptoms. Studies 6-7 showed that positive emotion mediated the relationship between gratitude and depressive symptoms. Study 8 found that positive reframing and positive emotion simultaneously mediated the relationship between gratitude and depressive symptoms. In sum, these eight studies demonstrate that gratitude is related to fewer depressive symptoms, with positive reframing and positive emotion serving as mechanisms that account for this relationship.
authors.affiliation: School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. natemlambert@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nathaniel M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Frank D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Fincham
authors.forename: Tyler F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Stillman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011582:Psychological Theory