Transcending the self: how spirituality fosters flourishing through gratitude and prosociality in emerging adults

Based on the Self-transcendence theory, the current study investigates whether spirituality, conceptualized as a non-affective motivational trait oriented toward meaning and connectedness, predicts flourishing among emerging adults. The study also examined the mediating role of gratitude and prosociality in this relationship. Data were collected from 521 emerging adults across India using a purposive sampling technique. Structural equation modeling with the maximum likelihood estimation technique indicated that spirituality positively predicted flourishing, with gratitude and prosociality fully mediating this relationship. The findings highlight the significance of self-transcendent constructs such as spirituality, gratitude, and prosociality in fostering flourishing among emerging adults.