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Gratitude Interventions: Effective Self-help? A Meta-analysis of the Impact on Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety

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  • David R. Cregg

    (The Ohio State University)

  • Jennifer S. Cheavens

    (The Ohio State University)

Abstract

Research suggests gratitude interventions—designed to increase appreciation of positive qualities, situations, and people in one’s life—may improve psychological well-being (e.g., Seligman et al. in Am Psychol 60:410–421, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410 ). Accordingly, mental health practitioners have promoted gratitude interventions as a means of self-help. However, results from previous reviews suggest that well-being improvements associated with gratitude interventions may be attributable to placebo effects (Davis et al. in J Couns Psychol 63:20–31, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000107 ; Wood et al. in Clin Psychol Rev 30:890–905, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.005 ). With this meta-analysis, we examined the efficacy of gratitude interventions (k = 27, N = 3675) in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety at post-test and follow-up periods. Gratitude interventions had a small effect on symptoms of depression and anxiety at both post-test (g = − 0.29, SE = 0.06, p

Suggested Citation

  • David R. Cregg & Jennifer S. Cheavens, 2021. "Gratitude Interventions: Effective Self-help? A Meta-analysis of the Impact on Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 413-445, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:22:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-020-00236-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-020-00236-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Guillaume Tachon & Aïcha Rouibah & Blaire Morgan & Rebecca Shankland, 2022. "A Prototype Analysis of Self-Gratitude: Towards a Broadening of the Concept of Gratitude," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 1867-1885, June.
    3. Amelia Dennis & Jane Ogden, 2022. "Nostalgia, Gratitude, or Optimism: The Impact of a Two-Week Intervention on Well-Being During COVID-19," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2613-2634, August.
    4. Bin Li & Qin Zhu & Aimei Li & Rubo Cui, 2023. "Can Good Memories of the Past Instill Happiness? Nostalgia Improves Subjective Well-Being by Increasing Gratitude," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 699-715, February.
    5. Jannis Kraiss & Kleinjan Redelinghuys & Laura. A. Weiss, 2022. "The effects of psychological interventions on well-being measured with the Mental Health Continuum: a meta-analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3655-3689, October.

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