Religiosity and psychological well-being of Chinese college students in Hong Kong: The role of gratitude and hope

Abstract

Previous studies in Western countries have confirmed the relationship between religiosity and psychological well-being. However, there is limited research exploring the role of gratitude and hope in the relationship between religion and the psychological well-being of Chinese youth. This study investigates the mediating role of gratitude and hope in the effects of religiosity on well-being. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 191 Chinese college students aged 18–30 in Hong Kong. The study revealed that religiosity was directly related to psychological well-being and indirectly associated with it through gratitude and hope. The results of this study supported that increasing religiosity could enhance gratitude and hope and is beneficial to Chinese youth’s psychological well-being. Social Service agencies can consider incorporating gratitude, hope and religiosity into interventions to improve youth well-being. Further studies could examine whether gratitude and hope mediate the relationship between religiosity and psychological well-being among young people in other cultures.