Role of Gratitude and Self-Compassion in Predicting Flourishing and Life Satisfaction among University Students

Background: University students undergo many challenges, such as academic, social, and personal challenges, which can influence their psychological well-being and quality of life. Positive psychological constructs, including gratitude, self-compassion, etc., are being increasingly studied as protective factors fostering resilience, flourishing, and life satisfaction. Nevertheless, very few studies have examined the predictive roles of these variables among Indian university students. Objective: The present study aimed to examine the role of gratitude and self-compassion in predicting flourishing and life satisfaction among university students. Methods: A research design of the cross-sectional correlational type was utilized, which is quantitative in nature. The study included a total of 320 university students aged 18-26 years from North and South Delhi, which was done through convenience sampling. The data were gathered using several inventories, which include the Gratitude Questionnaire–Six Item Form (GQ-6), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), among others. IBM SPSS Statistics was used to obtain descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, reliability analysis, and multiple linear regression. Results: The results revealed a positive significant association of gratitude and self-compassion with flourishing and life satisfaction (p <.001). All the variables of the study had a positive relationship. Results of the multiple regression analysis regarding the prediction of flourishing and life satisfaction by gratitude and self-compassion (R² = .50; R² = .48). Flourishing was better predicted by gratitude than by life satisfaction. In contrast, self-compassion was more predictive of life satisfaction. The reliability coefficients of all instruments were in the range of 0.756 to 0.856. Conclusion: The results of the research indicated that gratitude and self-compassion make important contributions to flourishing and life satisfaction. Through Counselling Services, mindfulness-based interventions and positive psychology programmes, enhancement of students’ psychological well-being, resilience and quality of life may be attained. The results have also expanded the application of Positive Psychology Theory and Self-Compassion Theory in the Indian higher education context.