The gratitude and mental health of student in East Kalimantan, Indonesia
The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
ISSN: 1755-6228
Article publication date: 27 August 2024
Issue publication date: 10 October 2024
Abstract
Purpose
High levels of mental health disorders in students can affect their academic activity. Students should think positively to control the mental health disturbances they experience. This study aims to address the mental health problems of students by increasing their gratitude because gratitude is the key to facing the problems that a person faces. Therefore, the study focuses on finding the influence of gratitude on student mental health disorders.
Design/methodology/approach
The subjects in this study were 420 students in Eastern Kalimantan using quantitative methods with gratitude scales GQ-6 and DASS-21. Data collection method with online questionnaires to be analyzed with regression analysis.
Findings
The findings of this study empirically show that gratitude has a significant and positive effect on mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress). This shows that gratitude has an important effect on mental health in students. If gratitude is higher, then anxiety and stress decreases significantly. This study aims can serve as a foundation for student mental health improvement programs.
Research limitations/implications
This study was cross-sectional, which makes it impossible to conclude a causal relationship between the variables. Therefore, future research should use more advanced research methods, including longitudinal and experimental studies. Another potential limitation that could bias the results is the fact that the data were based solely on self-reports. Then, the study group included a larger proportion of female students than male students.
Practical implications
This study provides a deeper understanding of the importance of gratitude in maintaining mental health. Gratitude has been shown to have a positive correlation with increased psychological well-being, decreased levels of depression and increased resilience in the face of everyday stress and challenges in college students at private univesity and state university.
Originality/value
This research changes students' mindset to always be grateful by thinking positively during the teaching and learning process at university. Many students complain about the current conditions, especially related to study assignments, differences in the teaching and learning process at school. This study is useful for students to reduce mental health disorders at university.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the participants for taking their time to participate in this intervention. This study was supported by the psychology department, Muhammadiyah University of East Kalimantan.
This research is funded by ministry of education.
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Theory and earlier investigations were conceptualized by H, AHBH, AFH and M. Methodology is by H, AHBH, DDD, AFH and M. Performed statistical analysis is by AHBH, H, AR until prepared the discussion. ABHB and H critically revised the work to improve its key intellectual substance. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
Citation
Hamka, H., Bil Haq, A.H., Ramdani, A., Haq, A.F., Nulipata, M. and Damayanti, D.D. (2024), "The gratitude and mental health of student in East Kalimantan, Indonesia", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 19 No. 5, pp. 269-279. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-09-2023-0080
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited