Gratitude, Empathy, and Resilience in Polish Adults: Does Gender Play a Role?

• In Event: 1-036 - Gratitude in youth and adults in the United States, Brazil, and Poland

Integrative Statement

Past research shows that compared to males, across the lifespan, females often report higher empathy and gratitude (Eisenberg et al. 1989, Derntl et al. 2010, Huetter et al. 2016, Howell et al. 2015, McCullough et al. 2002). However, in the field of resilience, gender differences remain relatively unclear. For example, some studies show that compared to females, males often report greater optimism and tolerance for failure (Ogińska-Bulik & Juczyński, 2008). In contrast, other studies find no such gender differences. Further, to date, the influence of gender on the relations among resilience dimensions, gratitude, and empathy remain unexplored. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to examine gender differences among levels of empathy, gratitude, and resilience among Polish emerging adults.

Two hundred and fourteen Polish emerging to middle-aged adults between 18 and 60 years (51 % male), completed self-report measures of empathy, gratitude, and resilience: The GRAT – R Questionnaire (Thomas & Watkins, 2003, in a Polish adaptation by Tomaszek & Lasota, 2018), The Polish Resilience Scale SPP-25 (Ogińska-Bulik, Juczyński, 2008), and A Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy (Reniers et al., 2011, translated into Polish by Lasota & Tomaszek, 2018).

Results revealed significant gender differences in this Polish sample, with females reporting higher cognitive and affective empathy than did males. Compared to males, females also scored higher on gratitude, especially in the subscale “Social Appreciation.” In contrast, males scored higher in resilience and optimism. That is, compared to females, males reported a more optimistic attitude to life and the ability to mobilize. Significant gender-related differences were also found in the correlational patterns among resilience, gratitude, and optimism. More specifically, compared to females, the relation between gratitude and empathy was stronger for males. In contrast, among females, stronger correlations were found among gratitude, resilience, and one dimension of affective empathy (“Proximal Responsivity”). However, among males, gratitude correlated with all the factors of resilience except “Perseverance and Determination in Action.” Further, among males, gratitude was also related to all dimensions of empathy but “Peripheral Responsivity.” Regression analysis also revealed significant gender differences with resilience showing the greatest impact on gratitude (ß = 0.47), followed by cognitive empathy among females (ß = 0.14). In contrast, among males, resilience had less of an influence on gratitude (ß = 0.22), as more factors played a role such as cognitive empathy, (ß = 0.32), followed by affective empathy (ß = 0.18), and place of residence (ß = - 0.16). Overall, across both genders, results showed strong positive relations between gratitude and empathy and between gratitude and resilience, with openness to new experience the most important predictor and mediator of gratitude. Gender differences included a female bias in gratitude and empathy. Moreover, among females, through resilience, empathy indirectly influenced gratitude. For males, empathy had both direct and indirect influence on gratitude. Results are discussed in terms of future research and implications for gender-focused practice in positive psychology and well-being.

Authors

• Agnieszka Lasota, Pedagogical University of Kraków
  Presenting Author

• Katarzyna Tomaszek, Pedagogical University of Kraków
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sandra Bosacki, Brock University
  Non-Presenting Author