Gratitude in the Time of the Coronavirus: AThematic Analysis of the Three Good Things in Young Adults

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the daily lives ofcollege students, resulting in elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and isolation.Research suggests positive psychology interventions aimed at practicing gratitude,offer potential benefits in reducing these common mental health problems. However,there is a limited understanding of how or why these interventions work nor whatfunction gratitude plays in the lives of young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.As such, the purpose of the paper was to explore the sources and targets ofgratitude of college students during the COVID-10 lockdown in Ireland. This studyaimed analyse the content of the ‘Three Good Things’ intervention asreported by young adults during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Ireland. A total of 109college students participated in a 7-day online ‘Three Good Things’intervention, where they were prompted to reflect on and document three positiveexperiences each day. Participants were asked to elaborate on how these experiencesmade them feel and to highlight their role in facilitating these positiveexperiences. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the 2,200 submitted responses.The findings revealed three overarching themes relating to participants’expressions of gratitude during the COVID-19 lockdown: (1) cultivating positivesocial interactions, (2) prioritizing meaningful self-care, and (3) fostering hopefor a more normal life post-pandemic. By delving into the lived experiences ofcollege students, this study sheds light on the elements central to theirexpressions of gratitude during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscore theimportance of social connections, self-care practices, and hopeful prospects assources of gratitude among students.