Positivity beyond the interpersonal: how gratitude to nature influences life satisfaction among adolescents
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Although interpersonal gratitude has been identified as a significant predictor of life satisfaction among adolescents, the relationship between life satisfaction and gratitude beyond the interpersonal domain, especially gratitude to nature, and its underlying mechanisms have not been well-studied. To address this gap, we recruited 1021 Chinese adolescents ( M age = 15.94, SD age = 0.81, 44.9% girls) to explore the relationship between gratitude to nature and life satisfaction, alongside the mediating roles of social connectedness and subjective vitality. Structural equation modeling revealed that gratitude to nature is positively associated with life satisfaction. Furthermore, social connectedness and subjective vitality serially mediated this link. To summarize, the current study demonstrates the positive association between gratitude to nature and life satisfaction, while elucidating the underlying mechanisms driven by social resources (social connectedness) and psychological resources (subjective vitality). Our findings indicate that cultivating gratitude for nature among adolescents may be a sustainable approach to promoting social and individual well-being.
Authors: Yue Zhou, Liuna Geng
Institution: Nanjing University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,000
OpenAlex ID: W7166519907