Mindfulness, Gratitude, and Mental Well-Being Among Working University Students in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Lintang Abigail Yokanan (Fakultas Psikologi Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana)
Arthur Huwae (Fakultas Psikologi Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana)

Journal of Psychological Perspective
Vol. 8 No. 4 (2026)

University students who work while pursuing their degrees face competing academic and employment demands that may affect their mental well-being. This study aimed to examine the predictive relationships of mindfulness and gratitude with mental well-being among working university students. A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational design was employed. A total of 332 university students working at least 20 hours per week were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected online using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Gratitude Questionnaire–6, and Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale and analyzed using multiple linear regression. Most participants exhibited very high levels of gratitude, while moderate mental well-being was the most frequently observed category. The overall regression model was not statistically significant, F(2, 329) = 0.779, p = .460, R² = .005, adjusted R² = −.001. Neither mindfulness (β = −.013, p = .820) nor gratitude (β = .070, p = .213) was a statistically significant predictor. Together, both variables explained only 0.5% of the variance in mental well-being. These findings indicate limited explanatory power within the study sample rather than demonstrating the absence of associations in the broader population. Future research should evaluate measurement quality and incorporate contextual factors, including work–study conflict, work intensity, financial strain, and social support, into more comprehensive predictive models. Abstrak: Mahasiswa yang berkuliah sambil bekerja menghadapi tuntutan akademik dan pekerjaan yang berpotensi berkaitan dengan kesejahteraan mental. Penelitian ini bertujuan menguji hubungan prediktif mindfulness dan kebersyukuran dengan mental well-being pada mahasiswa yang berkuliah sambil bekerja. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif korelasional dengan desain potong lintang. Sebanyak 332 mahasiswa aktif yang bekerja minimal 20 jam per minggu direkrut melalui purposive sampling. Data dikumpulkan secara daring menggunakan Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Gratitude Questionnaire–6, dan Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, kemudian dianalisis melalui regresi linier berganda. Sebagian besar partisipan menunjukkan kebersyukuran pada kategori sangat tinggi, sedangkan kategori mental well-being yang paling banyak ditemukan adalah sedang. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa mindfulness dan kebersyukuran secara simultan tidak memprediksi mental well-being secara signifikan, F(2, 329) = 0,779; p = 0,460; R² = 0,005; adjusted R² = −0,001. Secara parsial, mindfulness (β = −0,013; p = 0,820) dan kebersyukuran (β = 0,070; p = 0,213) juga tidak signifikan. Model hanya menjelaskan sekitar 0,5% variasi mental well-being. Temuan ini menunjukkan keterbatasan kemampuan penjelasan kedua sumber daya psikologis tersebut dalam sampel penelitian, tanpa membuktikan ketiadaan hubungan pada populasi. Penelitian selanjutnya perlu memeriksa kualitas pengukuran dan mempertimbangkan faktor kontekstual, seperti konflik kerja–studi, intensitas pekerjaan, tekanan finansial, dan dukungan sosial, dalam model yang lebih komprehensif.