How Belief in a Just World Benefits Mental Health: The Effects of Optimism and Gratitude

Feng Jiang; Xiaodong Yue; Su Lu; Guangtao Yu; Fei Zhu

doi:10.1007/s11205-015-0877-x

Author(s)

Feng Jiang
Xiaodong Yue
Su Lu
Guangtao Yu
Fei Zhu

Related Research Unit(s)

Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Detail(s)

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	411-423
Journal / Publication	Social Indicators Research
Volume	126
Issue number	1
Online published	25 Jan 2015
Publication status	Published - Mar 2016

Link(s)

DOI	DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-015-0877-x Final Published version
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Link to Scopus	https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84957850646&origin=recordpage
Permanent Link	https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/publications/publication(5d328433-70d2-4ac5-963f-0de041285c79).html

Abstract

Past research suggests that individuals’ belief in a just world (BJW) is closely connected with their mental health. To clarify the underlying mechanism, the current study proposes that BJW encourages optimism and gratitude which then mediates the relationship between BJW and mental health as indicated by subjective well-being (SWB) and depression. A sample of 1,200 undergraduates yields results indicating that (a) BJW influences optimism, gratitude, SWB, and depression after controlling for gender, age, income, and personality; (b) optimism and gratitude mediate BJW effects by increasing SWB and decreasing depression. The issues of BJW’s adaptive functions are discussed.

Research Area(s)

Belief in a just world, Depression, Gratitude, Optimism, Subjective well-being

Bibliographic Note

Full text of this publication does not contain sufficient affiliation information. With consent from the author(s) concerned, the Research Unit(s) information for this record is based on the existing academic department affiliation of the author(s).