The Role of Gratitude in Emotional Well-Being Among Indian Young Adults: A Mediation Analysis of Positive Affect

Emotional well-being is an important indicator of psychological health, and identifying positive psychological factors that enhance well-being has become a major focus of positive psychology research. The present study examined the relationship between gratitude, positive affect, and emotional well-being among Indian young adults, with positive affect proposed as a mediator. A cross-sectional correlational research design was employed, and data were collected from 293 Indian young adults using standardized measures of gratitude, positive affect, and emotional well-being. Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the proposed relationships. The findings revealed significant positive associations among gratitude, positive affect, and emotional well-being. Gratitude significantly predicted emotional well-being, while positive affect emerged as a strong predictor of emotional well-being. Mediation analysis further demonstrated that positive affect partially mediated the relationship between gratitude and emotional well-being, indicating that gratitude contributes to emotional well-being both directly and indirectly through increased positive emotional experiences. These findings support the principles of positive psychology and highlight gratitude as an important psychological resource for enhancing emotional well-being among Indian young adults. The study also provides practical implications for designing gratitude-based interventions aimed at promoting mental health and well-being.