General Gratitude Research Articles

Students’ gratitude and engagement in online learning: An experimental study

Engagement is essential in education, particularly in online learning. Many studies have been done to determine various antecedents of student engagement. However, more evidence-based experimental research is still needed to improve student engagement during online learning. This study aims to examine the effect of a gratitude intervention on student engagement in online learning. This study uses an experimental research design with a pre-and post-test control group design. Two online questionnaires were used in this study, a gratitude adjective checklist (GAC) and an online student engagement scale (OSES) which were administered to 47 undergraduate students. The participants were classified randomly into three conditions. In the first group, 20 students had a general gratitude exercise (experimental Group 1). In the second group, 15 students had an Islamic gratitude task (experimental Group 2). The last group consisted of 12 students without any gratitude tasks as a control group. The data were analyzed with Anova repeated measurements based on the pre- and post-test control group design. Results showed no interaction between different types of treatment and increased online engagement. However, it was found that the general gratitude treatment had the most significant effects compared to other treatments. This research proves that students can increase student engagement through the habit of being grateful daily including by writing down what things make them grateful.

Association Between the Creative Experience of Haiku Poetry and a Tendency Toward Self‐Transcendent Emotions

ABSTRACTHaiku is the world's shortest form of poetry, describing nature and ordinary everyday life. Previous studies and quotes from professional haiku poets suggest that haiku can foster self‐transcendent emotions, such as gratitude and awe. This study compares how those who did and did not create at least one haiku in the past month experience self‐transcendent emotions. A total of 192 haiku writers and 177 non‐writers responded to scales related to self‐transcendent emotions, such as gratitude for serenity, gratitude trait, and trait awe. The results of the Bayesian implementation of Generalized Linear Mixed models revealed that haiku writing increased the frequency of gratitude for serenity and awe, rather than general gratitude. These effects persisted even after controlling for interest in art and educational level, indicating that haiku writing has unique characteristics, including encouragement of attention to nature and a different perspective on daily life. Even in the absence of special events, a change in perspective toward everyday life occurs through creating haiku, and people appreciate and feel awe toward ordinary, everyday things. These novel findings contribute to the study of creativity and emotion.

The Association between Religiosity and HbA1c Level in Patients

Glycemic control poses a challenge in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Religiosity can influence a patient’s coping strategies with the disease. However, the relationship between patient religiosity and glycemic control has not been thoroughly explored. In this systematic review, we assessed the relationship between religiosity and glycemic control in patients with T2DM. Using PubMed and Google Scholar, we included articles published in English from 2011 onwards that quantitatively examined religiosity and its relationship with glycemic control based on the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Four studies from four different countries were included, employing varying measurement tools to assess religiosity. The HbA1c level was significantly related to the Diabetes Fatalism Index (p<0.05) and with general gratitude and gratitude to God, as assessed using the Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness. Religiosity may alleviate stress-related diseases and enhance diabetes care. One study showed a relationship between the HbA1c levels and the Beliefs and Values score amongst Muslims only. Two studies reported a significant correlation between religiosity and HbA1c levels. Reducing fatalistic beliefs and improving gratitude to God could be a viable strategy for helping patients manage T2DM. Further studies are needed to promote such an approach in T2DM management.

Gratitude and Religiosity in Psychiatric Inpatients with Depression.

Gratitude and religiousness/spirituality are increasingly recognized resources that have potential influence on psychological states such as depression. However, only few studies have investigated this relationship in psychiatric patients. The present study examined gratitude in psychiatric inpatients with depression, exploring its relevance, course, and interaction with psychopathological and religious measures. Both general and religious gratitude will be evaluated. A total of 212 inpatients with depression completed a questionnaire both at the beginning and the end of treatment. Gratitude was measured with a general gratitude scale using the Gratitude Questionnaire and a religion-specific measure assessing gratitude to God as part of the Structure of Religiosity Test. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to evaluate depressive symptoms. General religiosity was assessed using the Centrality of Religiosity Scale. Scores on the general and religious gratitude measures were in the upper range of these scales at baseline and demonstrated a significant increase during the hospital stay. Negative associations were found between general gratitude and depressive symptoms both on admission and at discharge (r = -0.505 and r = -0.478, respectively). General as well as religious gratitude was associated with the centrality of religiosity (r = 0.384 and r = 0.546, respectively). Religiosity accounted for approximately 10% of the variance in general gratitude on admission. Gratitude is highly prevalent in psychiatric patients with depression, and that may serve as a resource for these individuals. Both general and religious gratitude are associated with religiosity, which may also serve as a resource to these patients.

Abstinence and conscientiousness: gratitude or gratitude to God?

ABSTRACT We conducted three studies to examine the function of gratitude to God versus dispositional gratitude, dispositional indebtedness, indebtedness to God, and religiosity. Study 1 found that among these variables, dispositional gratitude and religiosity were positively correlated with conscientiousness, the trait most strongly associated with self-regulation, both in self- and informant-reports. Study 2 replicated these findings. Finally, Study 3 (a 44-day daily diary study during Lent) replicated Studies 1 and 2 in terms of predictors of conscientiousness. Furthermore, we found that gratitude to God, rather than dispositional gratitude or religiosity, assessed before the start of Lent predicted average abstinence success during Lent. The multilevel analysis showed that on a day when participants felt more gratitude to God, they abstained more successfully than on a day when they felt less gratitude to God. General gratitude and religiosity were associated with conscientiousness, while gratitude to God was associated with successful abstinence during Lent.

General gratitude and gratitude to God: associations with personality and well-being

ABSTRACT A growing body of research has focused on distinguishing general forms of gratitude from gratitude to God. We contributed to this area of research by examining correlates of personality traits and meaning in life in a cross-sectional study (N = 1,398). General gratitude was more strongly positively related to honesty-humility, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness, and meaning in life than gratitude to God. Moreover, gratitude to God moderated the positive relationship between general gratitude and meaning in life such that the relationship was stronger at lower than higher levels of gratitude to God. The results suggest that general forms of gratitude may be more important for well-being and positive traits than gratitude to God. General forms of gratitude may be particularly beneficial among less religious people, while gratitude to God may be particularly beneficial for people’s well-being among those who are less grateful in general.

Gratitude to God: A Unique Construct Adding to Our Understanding of Religiousness and Gratitude

In two national samples in the United States, we aimed to determine the extent to which GTG is distinct from both general gratitude and general religiousness, using statistical methods to determine (1) if GTG shows patterns of association with other variables distinct from general gratitude and religiousness, and (2) whether GTG predicts wellbeing above and beyond both general gratitude and religiousness. Online studies were conducted with 267 (Study 1) and 184 (Study 2) adults. Results across the two studies were consistent in demonstrating that GTG shows associations with relevant constructs that are distinct from both general religiousness and general gratitude. Further, GTG independently predicted aspects of psychological wellbeing, although findings were not consistent across all aspects. These findings indicate GTG is a unique construct warranting future research.

Personality Predictors of Gratitude to God: Examining the Roles of Positive Emotional Traits and Adaptive Relational Styles

Research relating personality variables to gratitude to God (GTG) is in its nascent stages, as only a few descriptive, correlational studies have been conducted on this topic. We investigated whether two kinds of personality variables—positive emotional traits and adaptive relational styles—predicted higher GTG. Hypotheses linking these variables to GTG were based on a novel, preregistered conceptual framework. We also explored whether general gratitude statistically mediated these links. In a cross-sectional study of N = 698 undergraduates from the United States, participants completed self-report measures of personality predictors, situational GTG and situational general gratitude in response to a positive event, as well as trait GTG. Correlations showed strong support for hypotheses connecting GTG (situational and trait) with positive emotional traits (extraversion, optimism, vitality, self-esteem). Correlations also supported hypotheses for one adaptive relational style (agreeableness) but not others (honesty–humility, lack of entitlement, secure attachment). General gratitude was a mediator of associations between positive emotional traits and both trait and situational GTG, and general gratitude mediated associations between adaptive relational styles and trait GTG. These results provide initial evidence suggesting that positive emotional traits have consistent, direct (and indirect via gratitude) links to GTG, whereas the evidence for adaptive relational styles was more inconsistent and indirectly mediated via general gratitude.

Relationship functioning following a large-scale sacrifice: Perceived partner prosociality buffers attachment insecurity.

In a sample of 229 individuals who recently undertook a large-scale sacrifice by relocating for their romantic partner's job or schooling (i.e., accompanying partners), we tested preregistered predictions linking accompanying partners' attachment insecurities (i.e., attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) and relationship functioning (i.e., relationship quality, relationship conflict, and move-related relationship benefits). We also examined whether any negative associations found among accompanying partners' attachment insecurities and relationship functioning could be buffered by partner prosociality in the form of perceived partner gratitude (i.e., partners' expressions of move-related and general gratitude) and perceived partner sacrifice (i.e., partners' daily sacrifice behaviors and general willingness to sacrifice). Results showed that more insecurely attached accompanying partners reported worse relationship functioning after moving than their secure counterparts. Although gratitude and sacrifice did not buffer insecurely attached individuals' relationship conflict, both perceived partner general gratitude and willingness to sacrifice partially buffered avoidantly attached individuals from experiencing lower relationship quality, while move-related gratitude helped avoidantly attached individuals to feel that the move benefitted their relationship. Meanwhile, perceived partner sacrifice behaviors buffered anxiously attached individuals from experiencing lower relationship quality. This is the first study to demonstrate, in an ecologically valid sample, the implications of a large-scale sacrifice for insecurely attached accompanying partners' relationship functioning, as well as the protective effects of perceiving a partner's prosociality following the major life transition of job relocation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Cognitive-affective structure of gratitude and its relationships with subjective well-being

Gratitude is considered to be a multidimensional construct consisting of both cognitive (cognitive appraisals of benefaction) and affective (feelings of gratitude) components, which is crucial for health and well-being. However, few studies have examined the cognitive-affective structure of gratitude and its associations with subjective well-being. Thus, the present study explored the two-dimensional structure of gratitude and its predictive effects on subjective well-being. Study 1 showed that the bi-factor structure of gratitude had the best fit with the data compared with the one- and two-factor models, and both general and affective gratitude positively predicted subjective well-being at the cross-sectional level. Study 2 further found that general gratitude positively predicted life satisfaction and positive affect after 3 months. However, cognitive gratitude negatively predicted subjective well-being at both cross-sectional and longitudinal levels. Therefore, future gratitude studies should consider the two-dimensional structure of gratitude.

Receiving a gift from God in times of trouble: links between gratitude to God, the affective circumplex, and perceived closeness to God

ABSTRACT We investigated how gratitude to God (GTG) functions within the context of negative events. Specifically, we sought to locate the position of GTG within the affective circumplex and to test whether GTG relates to higher levels of perceived closeness to God (PCTG). In a cross-sectional study, participants (N = 142 U.S. undergraduate believers in God) completed self-report measures pertaining to a negative event (and positive event, for comparison purposes). Supporting preregistered hypotheses, (a) GTG was located in the pleasant half of the affective circumplex (in the activated quadrant for the negative event and the deactivated quadrant for the positive event), and (b) GTG associated with higher levels of PCTG uniquely from affect, general gratitude, and the tendency to draw close to God when stressed (for both events). These results contribute to nascent knowledge about GTG and underscore the potential importance of GTG in the process of growing spiritually through adversity..

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

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.

Family Interaction and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Emerging Adults: A Mediation Model of Gratitude.

In this study, we investigated the relations between family interaction, gratitude, and depressive symptoms among Chinese emerging adults. It also investigated gratitude as a mediator in the relation between family interaction and depression. Data were obtained from 321 college students who completed the online questionnaire about the Family Assessment Instrument, Gratitude Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire, and demographic information. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test hypotheses and bootstrapping with 5,000 resamplings (95% confidence interval) was used to confirm the mediation model. Results showed that gratitude partially mediated the relation between family interaction and depression. In other words, students with healthy family interaction, as indicated by perceived better family communication, mutuality, and harmony with family members, tended to report higher general gratitude, and subsequently diminished depressive symptoms. The practical implications were discussed.

A new approach to gratitude interventions in high schools that supports student wellbeing

ABSTRACT Adolescents face unprecedented wellbeing challenges, compared to previous generations, and many schools are underprepared to meet these needs. Social emotional learning (SEL) programs help, but could better support moral development. Here we propose a modern approach to gratitude interventions (GI) in schools that addresses critical limitations and provides preliminary results of effectiveness. The GI combines a psychoeducational top-down technique with a bottom-up social-media-app modality that supports the autonomous practice of interpersonal and general gratitude. Compared to students in waitlist/control classes, students in GI classes demonstrated improved outcomes in trait gratitude, mental health, and personal/social wellbeing after 6 weeks. Students’ use of the app also demonstrated more grateful personality behaviors and personal engagement. Lastly, we examined the importance of interpersonal gratitude in general and found that expressing thanks contributed to improvements in SEL competencies among waitlist/control students 6 weeks later. Implications for improving character/SEL programs through school GIs are discussed.

Yakın Arkadaşlık İlişkisinde Minnettarlık Eğiliminin Bilişsel, Duygusal ve Davranışsal Göstergeleri: Türkiye Örneği

<div><!--block-->The aim of the current study is to investigate whether the perception of the value, cost and sincerity of a best friend’s helping behaviors, the gratitude felt toward the best friend and general gratitude expression differ according to dispositional gratitude and gender. Moreover, situations in which people felt gratitude toward their best friends and their means of expressing gratitude were investigated. A total of 406 people, 230 female and 176 male, participated in this study. Gratitude, Resentment and Appreciation Test - Revised, Gratitude Expression Scale, Gratitude Cognitive Evaluation Form, Gratitude Adjective Scale and Demographic Information Form were used. In addition, participants were asked open-ended questions to write about an event where they were grateful to their friend and how they expressed their gratitude. The Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) results indicated that those high in dispositional gratitude were more likely to have stronger (a) perceptions of the value, cost and sincerity of their best friend’s helping behaviors, (b) feelings of gratitude toward their best friend, and (c) gratitude expression. Additionally, the levels of gratitude expression for women were higher than those for men. Content analysis showed that the participants felt most grateful after receiving psychological and financial support from their friends and expressed their gratitude using verbal expression, nonverbal expression, or other-oriented expression styles. In parallel with the literature, the results of the study suggested that those high in dispositional gratitude were more aware of the behaviors of their best friends, and felt and expressed gratitude to them.</div>

Disentangling Gratitude: A Theoretical and Psychometric Examination of the Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Test–Revised Short (GRAT–RS)

ABSTRACTThis study extended our theoretical and applied understanding of gratitude through a psychometric examination of the most popular multidimensional measure of gratitude, the Gratitude, Resentment, and Appreciation Test–Revised Short form (GRAT–RS). Namely, the dimensionality of the GRAT–RS, the model-based reliability of the GRAT–RS total score and 3 subscale scores, and the incremental evidence of validity for its latent factors were assessed. Dimensionality measures (e.g., explained common variance) and confirmatory factor analysis results with 426 community adults indicated that the GRAT–RS conformed to a multidimensional (bifactor) structure. Model-based reliability measures (e.g., omega hierarchical) provided support for the future use of the Lack of a Sense of Deprivation raw subscale score, but not for the raw GRAT–RS total score, Simple Appreciation subscale score, or Appreciation of Others subscale score. Structural equation modeling results indicated that only the general gratitude factor and the lack of a sense of deprivation specific factor accounted for significant variance in life satisfaction, positive affect, and distress. These findings support the 3 pillars of gratitude conceptualization of gratitude over competing conceptualizations, the position that the specific forms of gratitude are theoretically distinct, and the argument that appreciation is distinct from the superordinate construct of gratitude.

General feelings of gratitude, gratitude to god, and hemoglobin A1c: Exploring variations by gender

Research indicates that feeling grateful is associated with better physical health. However, most studies rely on self-reports of health. The purpose of this study is to see if feelings of gratitude in general as well as feeling grateful to God specifically are associated with a key biomarker of health – hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). HbA1c is an indicator of blood sugar control. In the process of assessing the relationship between gratitude and HbA1c, an effort is made to see if the relationship between these measures and HbA1c vary by gender. Findings from a recent nationwide survey indicate that women are more likely than men to feel grateful in general and to feel grateful to God. The results further reveal stronger feelings of general gratitude are associated with lower levels of HbA1c. However, this relationship did not differ for men and women. In contrast, feeling grateful to God was associated with lower HbA1c, but this relationship emerged among women only.

Gratitude, Burnout, and Sport Satisfaction Among College Student-Athletes: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support

The present study explored the relationships among gratitude, sport satisfaction, athlete burnout, and perceived social support among college student-athletes in the United States. Participants (N = 293) from 16 different types of sports at 8 NCAA Division I and III institutions were surveyed. Results indicated gratitude was negatively correlated with burnout and positively correlated with sport satisfaction, suggesting that athletes who reported more general gratitude also experienced lower levels of burnout and greater levels of satisfaction with their college sport experience. Perceived social support was found to be a mediator in both relationships. Limitations and implications for research and practice are discussed.

Thankful thinking: A thematic analysis of gratitude letters by mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder

BackgroundMothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly report elevated levels of stress and psychopathology compared to mothers of typically developing children. However, there is an expanding area of research which focuses on factors that promote positive adaptation among mothers of children with ASD. Gratitude is one factor associated with positive outcomes in the general population and may therefore, also be associated with positive outcomes for mothers of children with ASD. MethodIn this qualitative study, mothers of children with ASD were divided into two groups and instructed to write letters of gratitude to either someone besides their child (general gratitude) or their child (child gratitude). Coding and thematic analysis of their narratives was conducted using ATLAS.ti computer software. ResultsProminent themes for mothers in the general gratitude group included sources of social support, characteristics of close personal relationships, inspirational others, and other positive attributes of individuals, such as being kind-hearted. Whereas, in the child gratitude group, emergent themes were the child with ASD making progress, the child’s personality, inspiration, and shared experiences. ConclusionsFindings from this study suggest that mothers are able to identify and express gratitude for beneficial aspects of their lives. These findings have important implications for the understanding of the experience of parenting a child with ASD and may also serve to inform development of interventions to promote well-being in families of children with ASD.

Sport-domain gratitude uniquely accounts for athletes’ well-being across two cultures: Incremental validity above the general gratitude

The current study conducted two independent studies to examine whether sport-domain gratitude would account for increased explained variance in athlete well-being indicators after controlling for the general gratitude. Study 1 recruited 167 U.S. athletes and found sport-domain gratitude significantly accounted for increased explained variance in athletes burnout and team satisfaction when general gratitude was controlled. To cross-validate and advance Study 1, Study 2 recruited 290 Taiwan adolescent athletes with time lagged design. Results were consistent with Study 1 which supported its generalizability across countries and age. The implications and applications are discussed in terms of contextualized interpretation of gratitude.