Safe haven gratitude improves emotions, well-being, and parenting outcomes among parents with high levels of attachment insecurity

Abstract

ABSTRACT Attachment insecurity undermines emotions, well-being, and adaptive parenting behaviors. In this experiment (N = 614), we investigate whether expressing gratitude improves parents’ emotions, feelings of connectedness, well-being, and parenting outcomes. Furthermore, we evaluate whether a specific type of gratitude – safe haven gratitude – is especially beneficial for parents with greater attachment anxiety or avoidance relative to general gratitude or a control activity. Both general and safe haven gratitude led to immediate improvements in positive emotions, empathic emotions, and meaning in life. Safe haven gratitude increased feelings of connectedness for parents high in attachment insecurity, which in turn predicted improved well-being (i.e., happiness, positive emotions, negative emotions, psychological need satisfaction) and parenting outcomes (i.e., parental reflective functioning, parenting satisfaction, perceptions of children’s behavior, parental overcontrol) concurrently and 5 days later. These findings suggest that this relatively simple, self-directed positive activity offers a path for parents to improve their well-being and relationships with their children.