Indian Journal of Positive Psychology © 2022 Indian Association of Health, Research and Welfare

2022, 13(4), 418-422 ISSN-p-2229-4937,e-2321-368X

https://iahrw.org/our-services/journals/indian-journal-of-positive-psychology/ NAAS Rating 4.38

Gratitude and Hope as Correlates of Psychological Well-being

amongst COVID-19 Survivors
Taruna Gera1, Ajit Bhardwaj2, Devansh Singh3, Jyoti Boora4, Namita Lohra5, Sangeeta Boora6
Shubhangi Singh7, and Tanisha Sharma8
Department of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science Technology, Hisar, Haryana1
Department of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana2,3,4,5,6,7,8

The world witnessed and went through the COVID-19 pandemic for a major part of two years, the after effects of
which still reverberate loudly worldwide. The psychological and emotional turmoil was felt by everyone but was
accentuated many fold, especially for the COVID-19 survivors. Years of research have already established gratitude
and hope to be the predictors of psychological well-being. The present research study made an attempt to explore
gratitude and hope as the correlates of psychological well-being amongst COVID-19 survivors. The sample of this
research study consisted of 76 survivors (N=76) from the state of Haryana, India. Gratitude Questionnaire-6 by
McCullough et al. (2002); the Adult State Hope Scale by Snyder et al. (1996); and Ryff's Psychological Well-being
Scale (RPWBS-18; Ryff et al., 2010) were used for the assessment of the variables. Descriptive statistics and
Pearson's Product Moment Correlation was applied to explore the relationship among the variables. The findings of
the study establish a significant positive correlation between both, gratitude and psychological well-being & hope
and psychological well-being.

Keywords: COVID-19 survivors, psychological well-being, hope, gratitude, pandemic

A pandemic is a widespread or universal phenomenon affecting

significant proportions of many populations over a large area,
Author Note
1
particularly with reference to a disease or disorder (American
Dr. Taruna Gera, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Psychological Association, 2020). This definition is of a classic
Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science Technology pandemic, the criteria of which was met in March, 2020 in the terms
Hisar, Haryana of both the disease (COVID-19) and the incidence of psychological
E-mail: tarunagera@gmail.com disorders that followed. The increase in widespread emotional
2
Ajit Bhardwaj, Student, B.Sc. (Hons.) Psychology, Department of distress and risk for psychiatric illness in part, have been attributed
Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and towards the onset of the global pandemic.
Technology, Hisar, Haryana
3 The situation that has followed has resulted in “widespread
Devansh Singh, Student, B.Sc. (Hons.) Psychology, Department of
emotional distress and increased risk for psychiatric illness”
Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and
(Pfefferbaum & North, 2020). The immediate effect and emotional
Technology, Hisar, Haryana
4 burnout were apparent, especially in health care workers, hospital
Jyoti Boora, Student, B.Sc. (Hons.) Psychology, Department of
and public administrators who were dealing with COVID-19. The
Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and
fear and worries of contacting the virus, being a potential carrier of
Technology, Hisar, Haryana
5 it, infecting their loved ones, when combined with the arduous work
Namita Lohra, Student, B.Sc. (Hons.) Psychology, Department of
that they've been subjected to, results in a concomitant state of
Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and
burnout making them prone to affective mental disorders.
Technology, Hisar, Haryana
6 Brooks et al. (2020) suggested health care providers and
Sangeeta Boora, Student, B.Sc. (Hons.) Psychology, Department of
quarantined people faced complications like stress, depression,
Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and
irritability, insomnia, xenophobia, confusion, rage, frustration,
Technology, Hisar, Haryana
7 boredom, and stigma associated with seclusion and self-isolation.
Shubhangi Singh,Student, B.Sc. (Hons.) Psychology, Department
The imposed confinement to homes resulting in a lack of social
of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science
interaction, the uncertainty and collective hysteria, the economical
and Technology, Hisar, Haryana
8 and emotional losses permitted individuals to become anxious,
Tanisha Sharma, Student, B.Sc. (Hons.) Psychology, Department
lonely, confused and easily irritable which along with a modish
of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science
monotonous lifestyle acted as a gateway to psychological disorders
and Technology, Hisar, Haryana
with the incidence of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) on the
We have no known conflict of interest to disclose
rise (Brooks et al., 2020).
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Dr. Taruna Gera, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Social isolation, physical discomfort, fear of virus transmission to
Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science Technology others, and negative news on social media resulting in loneliness,
Hisar, Haryana anger, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and posttraumatic stress
E-mail: tarunagera@gmail.com symptoms (Xiang et al., 2020) were observable among individuals
affected by the virus, 96.2% of recovering patients reported post-