IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v24y2023i1d10.1007_s10902-022-00584-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From Emotion Beliefs to Regulatory Behavior: Gratitude Journaling Initiation and Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Chen-Wei Yu

    (National Taiwan University
    Northwestern University)

  • Yen-Ping Chang

    (National Tsing Hua University)

  • Cheng-Hsien Li

    (National Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Hsiang-Yi Wu

    (Kaohsiung Medical University
    Kaohsiung Medical University)

Abstract

Writing a gratitude journal is an effective way to boost positive affect. However, little is known about what factors drive people to engage in this activity and whether such factors are related to the outcomes of the activity. This investigation attempted to answer these two questions. We proposed that two beliefs about emotion—desirability of happiness and uncontrollability of negative emotion—motivate people’s engagement in a gratitude journal. We recruited 311 participants online and examined whether and via what paths people’s beliefs about emotion translated to their voluntary initiation of a gratitude journal. We further tested (among those who initiated a journal) whether the emotional outcomes of writing a journal could be predicted by their beliefs about emotion (n = 101). The results showed that the desirability of happiness belief predicted the initiation of a gratitude journal via both the attitude-intention and the subjective norm-intention paths. Furthermore, this belief was positively related to the change in people’s ideal positive affect after writing the journal. In contrast, the uncontrollability of negative emotion belief did not predict journal initiation because the negative effect through the perceived behavioral control-intention path and the positive effect through the intention-only path canceled each other out. Furthermore, this belief was positively related to the change in people’s actual positive affect after writing the journal. Together, the findings delineate an emotion belief-to-emotion regulation behavior link and the consequences of such behavior. Implications for the design of gratitude journals specifically and positivity activity interventions generally are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen-Wei Yu & Yen-Ping Chang & Cheng-Hsien Li & Hsiang-Yi Wu, 2023. "From Emotion Beliefs to Regulatory Behavior: Gratitude Journaling Initiation and Outcomes," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 57-78, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:24:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-022-00584-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00584-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-022-00584-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-022-00584-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bahram Mahmoodi Kahriz & Joanne L. Bower & Francesca M. G. Q. Glover & Julia Vogt, 2020. "Wanting to Be Happy but Not Knowing How: Poor Attentional Control and Emotion-Regulation Abilities Mediate the Association Between Valuing Happiness and Depression," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(7), pages 2583-2601, October.
    2. Ji-eun Shin & Eunkook M. Suh & Kimin Eom & Heejung S. Kim, 2018. "What Does “Happiness” Prompt in Your Mind? Culture, Word Choice, and Experienced Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 649-662, March.
    3. Natalie Wong & Xianmin Gong & Helene H. Fung, 2020. "Does Valuing Happiness Enhance Subjective Well-Being? The Age-Differential Effect of Interdependence," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-14, January.
    4. Konrad Senf & Albert Liau, 2013. "The Effects of Positive Interventions on Happiness and Depressive Symptoms, with an Examination of Personality as a Moderator," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 591-612, April.
    5. Rohrer, Julia M. & Richter, David & Brümmer, Martin & Wagner, Gert G. & Schmukle, Stefan C., 2018. "Successfully Striving for Happiness: Socially Engaged Pursuits Predict Increases in Life Satisfaction," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 29(8), pages 1291-1298.
    6. Ernst T. Bohlmeijer & Jannis T. Kraiss & Philip Watkins & Marijke Schotanus-Dijkstra, 2021. "Promoting Gratitude as a Resource for Sustainable Mental Health: Results of a 3-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial up to 6 Months Follow-up," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1011-1032, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chuhua Zheng & Yanhong Wu, 2020. "The More Modest You are, the Happier You are: The Mediating Roles of Emotional Intelligence and Self-esteem," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 1603-1615, June.
    2. Chaniporn Thampanichwat & Pratsanee Meksrisawat & Narongrit Jinjantarawong & Somchok Sinnugool & Prima Phaibulputhipong & Pornteera Chunhajinda & Bhumin Bhutdhakomut, 2024. "A Systematic Review of Architecture Stimulating Attention through the Six Senses of Humans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Temizkan, Ege & Köse, Barkın & Şahin, Sedef, 2023. "Social determinants of life satisfaction in emerging adults," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Jolanta Enko & Maciej Behnke & Martyna Dziekan & Michał Kosakowski & Lukasz D. Kaczmarek, 2021. "Gratitude Texting Touches the Heart: Challenge/Threat Cardiovascular Responses to Gratitude Expression Predict Self-initiation of Gratitude Interventions in Daily Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 49-69, January.
    5. Saira Hossain & Iva Strnadová & Joanne Danker & Sue C. O’ Neill, 2024. "How Do Bangladeshi Secondary School Students Conceptualise Well-Being in School," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(4), pages 1523-1545, August.
    6. Tiziana CARPI & Airo HINO & Stefano Maria IACUS & Giuseppe PORRO, 2022. "A Japanese Subjective Well-Being Indicator Based on Twitter Data [‘Collective Smile: Measuring Societal Happiness from Geolocated Images’]," Social Science Japan Journal, University of Tokyo and Oxford University Press, vol. 25(2), pages 273-296.
    7. Leonie Manthey & Viktor Vehreschild & Karl-Heinz Renner, 2016. "Effectiveness of Two Cognitive Interventions Promoting Happiness with Video-Based Online Instructions," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 319-339, February.
    8. Bruce Headey & Gert G. Wagner, 2019. "One Size Does Not Fit All: Alternative Values-Based ‘Recipes’ for Life Satisfaction," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 145(2), pages 581-613, September.
    9. Young Yim Doh & Ji-Bum Chung, 2020. "What Types of Happiness Do Korean Adults Pursue?—Comparison of Seven Happiness Types," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-17, February.
    10. John Dave Abano & Chris John Bedoria, 2023. "Assessing Grit of Emerging Adult Diocesan Seminarians in Negros Island," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 43(1), pages 314-326, May.
    11. Derrick Wirtz & Amanda Tucker & Chloe Briggs & Alexander M. Schoemann, 2021. "How and Why Social Media Affect Subjective Well-Being: Multi-Site Use and Social Comparison as Predictors of Change Across Time," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 1673-1691, April.
    12. Peng, Jiamin & Yang, Xiaoyun & Poon, Patrick & Xie, Lishan, 2022. "Enhancing users' well-being in virtual medical tourism communities: A configurational analysis of users’ interaction characteristics and social support," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    13. Weiting Ng, 2017. "Extending Traditional Psychological Disciplines to Positive Psychology: A View from Subjective Well-being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(5), pages 1553-1571, October.
    14. Paulo Moreira & Susana Pedras & Márcia Silva & Maria Moreira & Joana Oliveira, 2021. "Personality, Attachment, and Well-Being in Adolescents: The Independent Effect of Attachment After Controlling for Personality," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 1855-1888, April.
    15. Gabriela Mihaela Muresan & Cristina Ciumas & Monica Violeta Achim, 2020. "Can Money Buy Happiness? Evidence for European Countries," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(4), pages 953-970, September.
    16. Esther Yuet Ying Lau & Xingzhou Zhang & Rong-wei Sun & John Chi-Kin Lee, 2024. "“The Sum Is Greater Than the Parts?”—The Role of Student Covitality in Flourishing," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 1-22, June.
    17. 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.
    18. Nicola S. Schutte & John M. Malouff, 2019. "The Impact of Signature Character Strengths Interventions: A Meta-analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1179-1196, April.
    19. Koch, Michael & Park, Sarah & Zahra, Shaker A., 2021. "Career patterns in self-employment and career success," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(1).
    20. Selda Koydemir & Aslı Bugay Sökmez & Astrid Schütz, 2021. "A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Randomized Controlled Positive Psychological Interventions on Subjective and Psychological Well-Being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(3), pages 1145-1185, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:24:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-022-00584-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.