Exploring the moderating effect of gratitude on the association between stressful events and negative affect, taking into account depression and well-being : an experience sampling study

Background: An increasing body of evidence suggests that gratitude buffers the negative impact of stressful life events. Recognising adaptation as a dynamic process, it becomes particularly interesting to explore the potential to employ gratitude in specific situations, as opposed to possessing high levels of trait gratitude. This study will comprehensively evaluate the moderating effect of gratitude across state, mood, and trait levels on the association between stressful events and negative affect and assess whether the moderating effect is maintained for individuals with various levels of mental well-being and depression. Method: This study comprised a secondary analysis and used the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) to assess gratitude in daily life. In this study state, mood, and trait levels of gratitude were distinguished. 132 participants completed a baseline questionnaire and three momentary questionnaires for 14 days. The data was analysed using linear mixed models (LMM). Conclusion: The findings highlight the significant role of state gratitude in buffering negative affect during stressful events, suggesting its potential value in gratitude interventions. Furthermore, this study provides some evidence for the potential of gratitude in populations with low levels of depression and populations with low mental well-being.