Gratitude and depressive symptoms in Chinese nurses: From a self‐determination theory perspective

Abstract Background A common psychological problem among nurses is depression, potentially affecting their well‐being and job performance. It is vital to explore how to alleviate nurses' depressive symptoms. Aim The current research explored the mediating impact of basic psychological needs satisfaction on the link of gratitude with depressive symptoms. Methods The nurses in this study were from mainland China. A total of 724 subjects completed an online questionnaire, which included measures of depressive symptoms, basic psychological needs satisfaction and gratitude. Results Our research found that gratitude was negatively linked to depressive symptoms. Furthermore, basic psychological needs satisfaction had a partial mediation effect on the link of gratitude with depressive symptoms after controlling for five demographic variables. These results suggest that gratitude may influence depressive symptoms via basic psychological needs satisfaction. Linking Evidence to Action Our study found that basic psychological need satisfaction partially mediates the gratitude‐depression relationship in nurses. The result means that hospital administrators and nurse leaders should design gratitude interventions to alleviate nurses' depressive symptoms. They also help nurses decrease depressive symptoms by creating an environment that meets their basic psychological needs.