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The Effect of Higher-Order Gratitude on Mental Well-Being: Beyond Personality and Unifactoral Gratitude

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Chih-Che Lin
Chih-Che Lin
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether higher-order gratitude consisting of multiple components (i.e., thanking others, thanking God, cherishing blessings, appreciating hardship, and cherishing the moment) explains variances in integrated mental well-being, including depression, self-esteem, and psychological well-being after controlling for gender, age, religion, the Big Five personality traits (i.e., openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism), and unifactorial gratitude (GQ). A total of 231 participants were recruited to complete questionnaires measuring the variables of interest. The results indicated that higher-order gratitude made a significant unique contribution to psychological well-being, self-esteem, and depression (3 % to 5 % of the variance, p < .05) above the effects of demographic variables, personality traits, and unifactorial gratitude. These findings suggested that higher-order gratitude is more than just personality traits or unifactorial gratitude, and it is important in its own right for integrated mental well-being.
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... Feelings of gratitude towards God, others, life and existence could lead to mental prosperity and more satisfying interpersonal relationship (Emmons & Crumpler, 2000). Grateful people tend to experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions (Froh, Yurkewicz, & Kashdan, 2009) and greater overall well-being (Kardas, Cam, Eskisu, & Gelibolu, 2019;Lin, 2017;Wood, Froh, & Geraghty, 2010); and experimental inductions or training of grateful feelings lead to increases in self-reported happiness as well (Witvliet, Richie, Root Luna, & Van Tongeren, 2019;Nguyen, & Gordon, 2019;Behzadipour, et al., 2018;Lyubomirsky, Dickerhoof, Boehm, & Sheldon, 2011). There is also ample evidence that practicing gratitude can improve physical health in addition to helping people balance their emotions and improve their relationship. ...
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... Feelings of gratitude towards God, others, life and existence could lead to mental prosperity and more satisfying interpersonal relationship (Emmons & Crumpler, 2000). Grateful people tend to experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions (Froh, Yurkewicz, & Kashdan, 2009) and greater overall well-being (Kardas, Cam, Eskisu, & Gelibolu, 2019;Lin, 2017;Wood, Froh, & Geraghty, 2010); and experimental inductions or training of grateful feelings lead to increases in self-reported happiness as well (Witvliet, Richie, Root Luna, & Van Tongeren, 2019;Nguyen, & Gordon, 2019;Behzadipour, et al., 2018;Lyubomirsky, Dickerhoof, Boehm, & Sheldon, 2011). There is also ample evidence that practicing gratitude can improve physical health in addition to helping people balance their emotions and improve their relationship. ...
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  • Aug 2023
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... In line with the present study, the results of Lin's study (2017) indicated that positive thinking made a significant unique contribution to psychological well-being, self-esteem, and depression (Lin 2017). Positive thinking itself represents a tendency to notice and appreciate the positive in life (i.e., cherishing blessings, appreciating hardship, cherishing the moment, and thanking God) (Lin and Yeh 2011). ...
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Article
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Article
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  • Jun 2020
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Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2002
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Article
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The Psychology of Gratitude
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