Adolescents and the cycle of positivity — moral emotions of gratitude and forgiveness as multiple mediators between altruism and subjective well-being

Abstract Previous studies have explored the relationships between altruism and well-being, as well as between altruism and moral emotions, with few examining the associations among these variables using path analysis. This study aims to address this gap by analysing a multiple mediation model with altruism as the exogenous variable, and the cognitive and affective components of subjective well-being (happiness and life satisfaction) as endogenous variables, with moral emotions of gratitude and forgiveness as mediators. The research sample consisted of 676 adolescents (55% girls), aged 14 to 18 years ( M = 16 .1 , SD = 1.2). Path analysis was conducted to test the proposed model. The results supported the research hypotheses, demonstrating that altruism is positively related to both happiness and life satisfaction via an indirect-only mediation pathway through gratitude and forgiveness. This study extends empirical support to the association between altruism and subjective well-being, as well moral emotions as mediators. Adolescents who report higher altruism alongside greater gratitude and forgiveness also report greater life satisfaction and happiness. Educational practitioners should pay more attention to the development of altruism and moral emotions in school programs aimed at enhancing psychological well-being in adolescents. Future longitudinal studies are needed to further clarify the directionality of the association between altruism and subjective well-being.