Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant psychological challenges worldwide, but individuals may also experience post-traumatic growth (PTG)-positive psychological changes following adversity. Identifying factors associated with PTG during global public health crises is crucial for advancing trauma recovery research and informing evidence-based interventions. As interpersonal interactions increasingly move to virtual platforms, online social support has become a key source of psychological resilience. Yet, how online social support facilitates PTG remains unclear, especially in large-scale adversities, like the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the association between online social support and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and examines the mediating roles of gratitude and positive reappraisal. METHOD: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in March 2022, recruiting 556 college students (70.83% female). Online social support, PTG, gratitude, and cognitive reappraisal were assessed using validated tools, including the College Students' Online Social Support Testing Questionnaire, Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Gratitude Adjective Checklist, and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). RESULTS: Participants reported moderate PTG levels. Online social support was positively associated with PTG and exerted both direct and indirect effects. The indirect effects occurred through a sequential mediation pathway, wherein online social support first enhanced gratitude, which in turn, promoted cognitive reappraisal, ultimately contributing to higher PTG levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the significant association between online social support and post-traumatic growth (PTG) during the COVID-19 pandemic, both directly and through the sequential mediating effects of gratitude and cognitive reappraisal. These findings underscore the importance of leveraging digital platforms to provide emotional and cognitive resources that support resilience and growth in times of large-scale adversity. Psychological interventions should prioritize cultivating gratitude and enhancing cognitive reappraisal skills as effective strategies to mitigate the negative psychological impacts of crises and facilitate PTG outcomes.