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Shifting Focus to Mitigate Risk: Examining Gratitude as a Protective Factor in Relation to Adolescents' Risk-Taking
Hongyu Liang1, Xiaohao Mai2, Junfang Wu3
1School of Psychology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, China.
The Journal of Genetic Psychology
|February 18, 2026
Summary
Gratitude protects adolescents from negative risk-taking behaviors. This positive emotion fosters compassion and improves impulse control, leading to healthier development and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Development
- Positive Psychology
Background:
- Negative risk-taking behaviors are a major threat to adolescent health.
- A strengths-based approach suggests positive emotions may offer protection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gratitude's protective role against adolescent risk-taking.
- To examine the mediating roles of compassionate goal orientation and dual-mode self-control.
Main Methods:
- Structural equation modeling was used.
- 646 Chinese adolescents completed validated questionnaires.
- Measures included trait gratitude, risk-taking, compassionate goals, and self-control.
Main Results:
- Gratitude directly reduced negative risk-taking.
- Gratitude indirectly reduced risk-taking by fostering compassionate goals, which reduced poor impulse control.
- Enhanced reflective control did not significantly mediate the relationship.
Conclusions:
- Gratitude acts as a psychological resource for adolescents.
- Interventions promoting gratitude may mitigate risk-taking and support positive youth development.
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