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

Objective: 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. Methods: 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. Results: (1) Gratitude was positively correlated with meaning existence (r = 0.39, P < 0.05), meaning seeking (r = 0.23, P < 0.05), and peer relationship (r = 0.32, P < 0.05); meanwhile, it is also positively correlated with family function (r = 0.34, P < 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. Conclusion: The mediating model showed that grateful individuals can better sense the meaning of life by perceiving good family function and good peer relationships.