AUTHOR=Zhang Ping , Ye Lin , Fu Fang , Zhang Lan Ge 

TITLE=The Influence of Gratitude on the Meaning of Life: The Mediating Effect of Family Function and Peer Relationship

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.680795

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.680795

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> This study aimed to explore the influence of gratitude on the meaning of life of college students and the mediating effect of family function and peer relationships.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A total of 1,049 college students (mean age: 18.59 ± 0.96 years) were investigated by gratitude scale, family function scale, peer relationship questionnaire, and meaning of life scale.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> (1) Gratitude was positively correlated with meaning existence (<italic>r</italic> = 0.39, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05), meaning seeking (<italic>r</italic> = 0.23, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05), and peer relationship (<italic>r</italic> = 0.32, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05); meanwhile, it is also positively correlated with family function (<italic>r</italic> = 0.34, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05); (2) family function partially mediates the relationship between gratitude and meaning of life. Similarly, peer relationship partially mediates the relationship between gratitude and meaning of life.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The mediating model showed that grateful individuals can better sense the meaning of life by perceiving good family function and good peer relationships.</p>