Attitude of The Effects of Gratitude on Natasha Lewis, Tara Spaugy, Genesis Hassen, and Daniel Hatch Ph.D. Introduction Methods Discussion

A great deal of money, effort and time is spent looking for activities and Participants : Were gathered from two Undergraduate courses of Introductory Research indicates that habits take somewhere between 21 and interventions that can help improve mood or an individual’s state of mind. at Southern Utah University. 69 days to develop (Lally, Jaarsveld, Potts, & Wardle, 2009). However, Oftentimes people turn to other means for support including self-help materials to Procedure: Participants were asked to take four surveys depicting how happy they were all of the gratitude interventions previously cited had a duration of only assist them in improving their moods. For example, an estimated 10 billion dollars and how grateful they were prior to beginning their gratitude journal. They then kept a one week. This was the primary rationale for the current study’s in revenue is generated by the self-help industry each year (Ackerman & Bauer, journal of three things they were grateful for that happened each day for either a three intervention length of gratitude journaling for three weeks. Results 2003). Furthermore, much of this literature is published by authors who lack week period of time or for just one week. Participants recorded three things they were suggest that those who keep a gratitude journal for longer periods of appropriate qualifications, with one study finding that only 19 of the 35 most popular grateful for and they wrote down why those good things had happened. At the closing of time, 21 days versus 7 days, had significantly more happiness post self-help authors possessing advanced degrees (Dunbar & Abra, 2005). Despite each week (or just the close of one week for participants in that group), everyone was intervention. Interestingly, 21 versus 7 day of gratitude journaling did not the self-help industry’s financial success there are a variety of psychological asked to write a reflection of how they felt doing this exercise. Participants then took post- lead to greater gains in overall gratitude. evidence based interventions that have empirical evidence supporting their test surveys and a follow-up survey again three months later. Anecdotal evidence from participants suggests that appreciating effectiveness (e.g., Seligman, Steen, Park & Peterson, 2005). Measures: The General Happiness Scale. The Gratitude Questionnaire-Six Item Form and recognizing the small and simple things began to have the greatest One intervention that has emerged in the last few years is the study of (GQ-6). Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Steen Happiness Inventory. impact on their happiness. Participants seemed to struggle, initially, with . Positive psychology is the study of factors and interventions Each participant was measure pre and post the journal entry along with three months after finding things to be grateful for but with the consistent practice were able that predict and create happiness in individuals (Seligman et al., 2005). Positive the journaling was completed. to focus on and appreciate these more minor but important elements of psychology provides a reputable, replicable response to answering the question of their lives. For example, several participants in the 3 week group effective ways of improving long-term happiness (Mongraine & Anselmo-Matthews, reported that by the third week, they became more aware of the simple, 2012). Seligman et al. studied the effects of gratitude on happiness levels. They Results day to day, things that they tended to take for granted. It was these found that being grateful for a weeks’ time improved an individual’s happiness important, but neglected elements of their life that seemed to change levels significantly for up to a period of six months. Mongraine and Anselmo- A paired samples t-test was conducted to evaluate whether participants increased their overall perspective. Our results are consistent with previous Matthews (2012) replicated the findings of Seligman and found similar results. happiness and gratitude respectively. For the 1 week intervention group there was a research that suggests that more access to positive self-relevant These studies demonstrated that recording three things that an individual could be significant difference for Happiness: t(15) 3.425, p=.001 and for Gratitude: t(15) 5.733, information is the common factor of gratitude interventions (Mongrain & grateful for each day and why these things had happened had a powerful impact on p=.001. Additionally, for the 3 week intervention group there were significant differences Anselmo-Matthews, 2012). It seems likely that this positive self-relevant the happiness levels of the participants. between groups for Happiness: t(12) 2.882, p=.040 and for Gratitude: t(12) 1.0251, p<.001. information comes in the form of personal gratitude. Watkins, Woodward, Stone and Kolts (2003) found that when people are The data was also analyzed using a 2 x 2 mixed ANOVA for happiness. There was a Additionally, research suggests that human beings spend a grateful in their thinking it seems to impact their mood to be more positive, which main effect for tests with post-test scores being higher than pretest scores, F(1,48) = 73.68, disproportionate amount of time focused on negative aspects of their then leads them to have a better perspective on their lives. This study found that p. < .001. There was also a main effect for length of intervention with 3 weeks of lives (Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Finkenauer, & Vohs, 2001). This often regardless of a person’s social standings, ethnicity, age or gender, psychological intervention scores being higher than 1 week of intervention scores, F (1, 48) = 15.01, p. < comes in the form of negative impressions, negative stereotypes and well-being can be improved through gratitude interventions. When psychological .001. Finally, there was an interaction between test and length of intervention with the post- negative memories. The impact of negativity seemed to play a prominent well-being is enhanced, participants are able to rethink their priorities and reflect on test of 3 weeks of intervention scores being higher than the post-test of 1 week intervention role with our participants in the early stages of the intervention. Initially, a more positive outlook (Myers & Diener 1995; Peterson, 2000). Adler and Fagley scores F (1, 48) = 41.50, p. < .001. participants reported that they often forgot about the “three good things” (2005) also found that when people express appreciation towards others it creates The data was then analyzed again using a 2 x 2 mixed ANOVA for gratitude. There until the end of the their day; however, most participants in the three a social bond. People like to feel important when interacting with others; it seems was a main effect for tests with post-test scores being higher than pretest scores, F(1,48) = week intervention reported that they began to notice during day, in real that this feeling of importance helped them to feel life satisfaction. When people feel 17.16, p. < .001. There was also a main effect for length of intervention with 3 weeks of time, the things for which they were grateful. It seems possible that their satisfaction in their life, they feel important and are willing to interact with others. intervention scores being higher than 1 week of intervention scores, F (1, 48) = .70, p. = perspectives shifted, from negative to positive, because of the This interaction not only helps demonstrate happiness towards others but also .420. However, there was no interaction between test and length of intervention with the intervention. More research is needed to confirm whether or not this is facilitates social bonds. Chen, Chen and Tsai (2012) also found similar results that post-test of 3 weeks of intervention scores being similar to the post-test of 1 week actually the case. showed that gratitude can induce wellbeing in social relationships. intervention scores F (1, 48) = .28, p. = .60. Finally, the fact that happiness but not gratitude increased when comparing the 3 week intervention group versus the one week group The gratitude-happiness link has been replicated in a variety of situations Happiness Scores Gratitude Scores was interesting. These findings could have implications regarding the and contexts, and appears to be a robust relationship (Myers & Diener, 1995; One Week One Week 20 20 relationship between happiness and gratitude. Future research could Peterson, 2000; Seligman, Steen, Park & Peterson, 2005). Somewhat surprisingly explore this relationship and possible moderators between the two all of these studies have utilized gratitude journaling interventions that have only 15 15 factors. lasted one week. 16.42 15.58

10 10 14.08 The current study is a replication of the prior work mentioned but with a 21- 12.83 day gratitude journal being used against a one-week gratitude journal. We hypothesize that journaling for a longer period of time will lead to a longer-lasting 5 5 boost to overall happiness levels in our participants. References 0 0 Pre-test Post-test Pre-test Post-Test Adler, M. G., & Fagley, N. (2005). Appreciation: Individual Differences in Finding Value and Meaningas a Unique Predictor of Subjective Well-Being. Journal of Personality, 73(1), 79-114. Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Finkenauer, C., & Vohs, K. D. (2001) Bad is stronger than good. Review of General Psychology. 5(4) 323-370. Happiness Scores Gratitude Scores Doi: 10.1037//1089-2680.5.5.323 Three Week Three Week Intervention Chen, L. H., Chen, M., & Tsau, Y. (2012). Does Gratitude Always Work? Ambivalence Over Emotional Expression Inhibits the Beneficial Effect of 20 Gratitude on Well-Being. International Journal of Psychology , 47(5), 381-392. 20 Dunbar, N., and Abra, G. (2006). “Analysis of Self-Help Books”, presented at the International Communication Association annual Meeting, 2006, Dresden, Germany Lally, P., Jaarsveld, C. H. M., Potts, H. W. W., & Wardle, J. (2009). How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. European 15 15 Journal of . 40(6). 998-1009. Doi: 10.1002/ejsp.674 17.58 Mongrain, M., & Anselmo-Matthews, T. (2012). Do Positive Psychology Exercises Work? A Replication of Seligman et al. Journal of Clinical 15.92 Psychology, 68(4), 382-389. Doi:10.1002/jclp.21839 14.92 Myers, D., & Diener, E. (1995). Who Is Happy? Psychological Science , 6(1) 1-10. 10 10 13.31 Peterson, C. (2000). The Future of . American Psychologist , 55(1) 44-55. Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., Peterson C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5) 410-421. Doi:10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410 5 Watkins, P. C., Woodward, K., Stone, T., & Kolts, R. L. (2003). Gratitude and Happiness: Development of a Measure of Gratitude and Relationships 5 with Subjective Well-Being. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 31(5), 431-452.

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