Mediation of social support and resilience in the relationship between gratitude and post-traumatic growth in middle school students 3 years after Lushan earthquake reconstruction

Objective To investigate the mediational effect of social support and resilience in the relation between gratitude and post-traumatic growth among middle school students three years after Lushan earthquake reconstruction.Methods A total of 1 136 middle school students were investigated with Gratitude Questionnaire,Social Support Rating Scale,Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale.Results Among students in earthquake affected areas,gratitude and resilience scores were higher in females (4.51±0.61 and 4.41±0.65 for gratitude;3.54±0.31 and 3.46±0.27 for resilience) and junior high school students (4.53±0.59 and 4.39±0.62 for gratitude;3.52±0.29 and 3.48±0.25 for resilience) (P<0.05).Gratitude,social support,resilience and post-traumatic growth scores were higher in students from heavily affected areas,and those with severe loss of property or no relatives killed or injured,compared with those from mildly affected area [(4.56±0.62 and 4.36±0.63),(3.64±0.51 and 3.38±0.60),(3.63±0.33 and 3.37±0.27),(3.27±0.53 and 3.03±0.61)],and with moderate loss of property[(4.56±0.62 and 4.36±0.63),(3.64±0.51 and 3.38±0.60),(3.63±0.33 and 3.37±0.27),(3.27±0.53 and 3.03±0.61)] or having relatives killed or injured[(4.59±0.6 and 4.33±0.64),(3.83±0.60 and 3.19±0.76),(3.67±0.35 and 3.33±0.27),(3.29±0.52 and 3.01±0.60)] (P<0.05).Correlation analysis showed that gratitude,social support and resilience were positively correlated with post-traumatic growth(r=0.53,0.35,0.48,P<0.05).Multiple regression analysis showed that gratitude not only had direct effect on post-traumatic growth,but also indirectly influenced post-traumatic growth.Significant partial mediation of social support and resilience on the association between gratitude and post-traumatic growth were revealed.Conclusion Gratitude had direct effect on post-traumatic growth among middle school students 3 years after Lushan earthquake reconstruction.Significant partial mediation of social support and resilience on the association between gratitude and post-traumatic growth are revealed.