Abstract

• The main aim of this study was to investigate trait gratitude and life satisfaction of university students. This study was conducted with the specific objectives: investigating trait gratitude and life satisfaction of the students, comparing gender, grade and university differences in gratitude and life satisfaction of students; exploring the relationship between gratitude and life satisfaction and exploring the effect of gratitude on life satisfaction of the students. A total of 840 university students (Male=420, Female=420) from three selected Universities in Sagaing Township participated in this study. Descriptive research design and survey method were used. To examine trait gratitude of students, Gratitude, Resentment and Appreciation Test (GRAT short form, Watkins, Woodward, Stone and Kolts, 2003) was used and Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS) developed by Huebner (2001) for life satisfaction of students was used in this study. According to the descriptive statistics, the results showed that the students’ trait gratitude and life satisfaction were satisfactory. Then, independent sample t test showed that trait gratitude and life satisfaction of students were significantly different by gender. Females were higher in trait gratitude and life satisfaction than males. However, no significant difference was found in trait gratitude but there was significant difference in life satisfaction of students by grade. Again, the results of ANOVA and Turkey HSD showed that there was significant difference in the students’ life satisfaction by University. Moreover, there was a significant positive relationship between trait gratitude and life satisfaction (r=.489). With the result of linear regression analysis, 24% of the variance in life satisfaction can be predicted from trait gratitude of students. Therefore, the results of this study revealed that trait gratitude of students can influence students’ life satisfaction.