Post‐election Gratitude Mediates the Association of Satisfaction With Election Results on Psychological Health: The 2023 Polish Parliamentary Election

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cris.lastimport.scopus2025-12-16T04:19:42Z
dc.abstract.enThis study examined the role of gratitude as a mediator in the relationship between satisfaction with election results and psychological health following the 2023 Polish parliamentary election—a period marked by intense political polarization. By distinguishing between dispositional gratitude and domain-specific gratitude related to political events, we hypothesized that post-election gratitude would be associated with psychological distress, irritability, and positive affect. Using a longitudinal design, data were collected from 1,391 participants across two waves: within 7 days before the election and 2 weeks after it. Findings revealed that satisfaction with the election results was significantly associated with higher irritability and lower positive affect, but not with psychological distress. Higher levels of post-election gratitude were linked with reduced psychological distress and irritability, as well as enhanced positive affect—independent of dispositional gratitude and pre-election negative affect. Furthermore, post-election gratitude mediated the relationship between satisfaction with electoral outcomes and both irritability and positive affect. Although satisfaction with the election results was not directly related to psychological distress, it was still indirectly associated with it via post-election gratitude. These findings suggest that post-election gratitude may be relevant to individuals' negative emotional responses in politically divisive contexts. They also offer a promising foundation for future research on gratitude-based interventions aiming at fostering individual and societal resilience in times of sociopolitical tension.
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii w Warszawie
dc.contributor.authorBaran, Maria
dc.contributor.authorBaran, Tomasz
dc.contributor.authorKaniasty, Krzysztof
dc.date.access2025-08-03
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-08T06:44:23Z
dc.date.available2025-08-08T06:44:23Z
dc.date.created2025-05-30
dc.date.issued2025-08-03
dc.description.abstract<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title><jats:p>This study examined the role of gratitude as a mediator in the relationship between satisfaction with election results and psychological health following the 2023 Polish parliamentary election—a period marked by intense political polarization. By distinguishing between dispositional gratitude and domain‐specific gratitude related to political events, we hypothesized that post‐election gratitude would be associated with psychological distress, irritability, and positive affect. Using a longitudinal design, data were collected from 1,391 participants across two waves: within 7 days before the election and 2 weeks after it. Findings revealed that satisfaction with the election results was significantly associated with higher irritability and lower positive affect, but not with psychological distress. Higher levels of post‐election gratitude were linked with reduced psychological distress and irritability, as well as enhanced positive affect—independent of dispositional gratitude and pre‐election negative affect. Furthermore, post‐election gratitude mediated the relationship between satisfaction with electoral outcomes and both irritability and positive affect. Although satisfaction with the election results was not directly related to psychological distress, it was still indirectly associated with it via post‐election gratitude. These findings suggest that post‐election gratitude may be relevant to individuals' negative emotional responses in politically divisive contexts. They also offer a promising foundation for future research on gratitude‐based interventions aiming at fostering individual and societal resilience in times of sociopolitical tension.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumberProgram OPUS-19 grant No. 2020/37/B/HS6/02.
dc.description.issue8
dc.description.physical588-599
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume55
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/jasp.70001
dc.identifier.issn0021-9029
dc.identifier.issn1559-1816
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/1639
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsClosedAccess
dc.rights.explanationZa pay wallem
dc.rights.questionNo_rights
dc.share.articleOTHER
dc.subject.engratitude
dc.subject.enpolitical elections
dc.subject.enpsychological distress
dc.subject.enwell‐being
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titlePost‐election Gratitude Mediates the Association of Satisfaction With Election Results on Psychological Health: The 2023 Polish Parliamentary Election
dc.title.journalJournal of Applied Social Psychology
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle