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Examining Psychosocial Pathways Underlying Gratitude Interventions: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Author

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  • Brenda H. O’Connell

    (National University of Ireland Maynooth)

  • Deirdre O’Shea

    (University of Limerick)

  • Stephen Gallagher

    (University of Limerick)

Abstract

Despite their unprecedented popularity, the psychological mechanisms through which gratitude journals operate are poorly understood. Also the use of gratitude journaling to enhance social relationships has been neglected in past research, despite the importance of healthy relationships for people’s happiness. This randomized controlled study examined the effect of (a) a traditional gratitude journal (fostering gratitude for daily life), and (b) an interpersonal gratitude journal (fostering gratitude for one’s existing social relationships), versus (c) an active control journal, on life satisfaction. Ninety-one participants were randomized to one of three conditions with 2-week and 1-month follow-ups. The traditional gratitude intervention (vs. control) showed improvements in friendship at immediate post-test and 1-month follow-up, and these effects were accounted for by changes in gratitude over time. Additionally, the traditional gratitude intervention (vs. control) predicted enhanced life satisfaction at follow-up, and this was serially mediated by 6 week changes in gratitude and perceived friendship quality. No such differences over time were observed between the interpersonal gratitude intervention and either the control intervention or the traditional gratitude intervention. Actively appreciating things in daily life appears to be effective in enhancing the quality of people’s social relationships, and producing sustained improvements in subjective wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Brenda H. O’Connell & Deirdre O’Shea & Stephen Gallagher, 2018. "Examining Psychosocial Pathways Underlying Gratitude Interventions: A Randomized Controlled Trial," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(8), pages 2421-2444, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:19:y:2018:i:8:d:10.1007_s10902-017-9931-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-017-9931-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Valentina Reyes & Wenceslao Unanue & Marcos Gómez & Diego Bravo & Jesús Unanue & Claudio Araya-Veliz & Diego Cortez, 2022. "Dispositional Gratitude as an Underlying Psychological Process Between Materialism and the Satisfaction and Frustration of Basic Psychological Needs: A Longitudinal Mediational Analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 561-586, February.
    2. Hongcui Yang & Chuqiao Liang & Yue Liang & Ying Yang & Peilian Chi & Xianglong Zeng & Qinglu Wu, 2023. "Association of Gratitude With Individual and Organizational Outcomes Among Volunteers: An Application of Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    3. Lia-Ecaterina Oltean & Andrei C. Miu & Radu Șoflău & Aurora Szentágotai-Tătar, 2022. "Tailoring Gratitude Interventions. How and for Whom Do They Work? The Potential Mediating Role of Reward Processing and the Moderating Role of Childhood Adversity and Trait Gratitude," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 3007-3030, August.

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