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Social construction of gratitude: combined effect of contextual factors and benefactor-recipient relationships on interpersonal gratitude

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  • Jiaci Lin

    (Yunnan Normal University)

  • Keli Yin

    (Yunnan Normal University)

  • Yunpeng Zhang

    (Yunnan Normal University)

  • Yan Qu

    (Yunnan Normal University)

Abstract

Although gratitude has been extensively studied, the combined effects of multiple determinants on gratitude have not been thoroughly examined, particularly within Chinese cultural contexts. Through four studies (N = 992), we explored how contextual factors (helping motive attributions and types of help) and benefactor-recipient relationship (horizontal and vertical relationships) inform interpersonal gratitude. The results revealed that recipients experienced more gratitude when help was attributed to autonomous motivation rather than controlled motivation; autonomy-oriented help elicited more gratitude from recipients than dependency-oriented help. Additionally, the benefactor-recipient relationship had a significant impact on the recipients’ experience of gratitude. Importantly, across both horizontal and vertical relationships, the results provided evidence supporting the interactive effects of different types of help and benefactor-recipient relationships on interpersonal gratitude. Our findings highlight the role of how multiple determinants shaped gratitude, which offer a more nuanced perspective on the formation of gratitude in Chinese cultural contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiaci Lin & Keli Yin & Yunpeng Zhang & Yan Qu, 2024. "Social construction of gratitude: combined effect of contextual factors and benefactor-recipient relationships on interpersonal gratitude," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-04283-9
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-04283-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cláudia Simão & Beate Seibt, 2014. "Gratitude Depends on the Relational Model of Communal Sharing," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, January.
    2. Maroussia Favre & Didier Sornette, 2015. "A Generic Model of Dyadic Social Relationships," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(3), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Elena Gabriela Nicuță & Ticu Constantin, 2021. "Take Nothing for Granted: Downward Social Comparison and Counterfactual Thinking Increase Adolescents’ State Gratitude for the Little Things in Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(8), pages 3543-3570, December.
    4. Maroussia Favre & Didier Sornette, 2013. "A Generic Model of Dyadic Social Relationships," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 13-62, Swiss Finance Institute, revised May 2015.
    5. Arvid Erlandsson & Mattias Wingren & Per A Andersson, 2020. "Type and amount of help as predictors for impression of helpers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-23, December.
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