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

Abstract

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.