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Gratitude and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in Vietnam War veterans
Abstract
Little information exists on the contribution of psychological strengths to well-being in persons with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data from other populations suggest that gratitude, defined as the positive experience of thankfulness for being the recipient of personal benefits, may have salutary effects on everyday functioning. We investigated whether dispositional gratitude predicted daily hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in combat veterans with and without PTSD. We also examined associations between daily gratitude and daily well-being across time. Veterans with PTSD, compared to those without PTSD, exhibited significantly lower dispositional gratitude; no differences were found on daily gratitude. Dispositional gratitude predicted greater daily positive affect, percentage of pleasant days over the assessment period, daily intrinsically motivating activity, and daily self-esteem over and above effects attributable to PTSD severity and dispositional negative and positive affect in the PTSD group but not the non-PTSD group. Daily gratitude was uniquely associated with each dimension of daily well-being in both groups. Although preliminary, these results provide support for the further investigation of gratitude in trauma survivors.
... Similarly, gratitude reflects a tendency to respond with appreciation for aspects of one's life (Seligman et al., 2004). Individuals higher in gratitude tend to mindfully focus on the present, experience more positive affect, and engage in more social and adaptive activities, all of which may help survivors cope with trauma-related distress (Kashdan et al., 2006). Indeed, empirical findings outside the area of trauma suggest both optimism (Hirsch et al., 2007) and gratitude (Kleiman et al., 2013) are generally associated with lower risk for suicidal ideation. ...
... Further, we extend posttraumatic stress and suicide research by introducing unique psychological strengths as factors that appear to be consistent with resilience (as evidenced by less suicidal ideation) among sexual assault survivors. To our knowledge, no previous studies have examined optimism and gratitude as moderators of this association among survivors of sexual assault, despite arguments for these psychological strengths as potential protective factors following trauma (Kashdan et al., 2006;Yehuda et al., 2006). ...
... Moreover, the fact that optimism went so far as to reduce this association to nonsignificance is also remarkable-and suggests that those with higher levels of optimism might be able to better manage the demands of a traumatic event, such that optimism is associated with fewer negative outcomes (Prati & Pietrantoni, 2009). Relatedly, our finding that gratitude weakened the link between posttraumatic stress symptoms and suicidal ideation is also meaningful and consistent with the hypothesis that this strength may function to help survivors counter trauma triggers and avoidance behaviors, in turn facilitating experiences of positive affect (Kashdan et al., 2006). The buffering effect of gratitude similarly aligns with the possibility that practicing daily appreciation is associated with focusing one's attention on favorable aspects of life and practicing healthy coping, which may promote a source of resilience and ultimately decrease the adverse impact of a traumatic event (Killen & Macaskill, 2015). . ...
Objective:
Posttraumatic stress symptoms related to sexual assault have been linked to greater suicidal ideation, yet little is known about protective factors that may weaken this link and reduce thoughts of suicide in the context of posttraumatic stress. Drawing on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and prior research, psychological strengths associated with resilience, such as optimism and gratitude, have the potential to be associated with attenuated suicidal ideation among sexual assault survivors.
Method:
We tested this possibility in a sample of 425 undergraduate women who reported unwanted sexual experiences during adolescence or adulthood.
Results:
A linear regression analysis revealed that greater sexual assault-related posttraumatic stress symptoms in the past month were associated with greater concurrent suicidal ideation. However, moderation analyses revealed the link between assault-related posttraumatic stress and suicidal ideation was attenuated for individuals higher in optimism and gratitude. Further, at the highest levels of optimism and gratitude, there was no longer a significant association between posttraumatic stress and suicidal ideation.
Conclusions:
Given optimism and gratitude are modifiable strengths that individuals can develop and grow over time, these results suggest boosting optimism and gratitude may be a valuable way to attenuate thoughts of suicide in interventions for college women who have experienced sexual assault. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
... −0.46]) 43 . Furthermore, gratitude interventions had a medium effect on anxiety symptoms 42 , and have been applicated in reducing anxiety symptoms in the clinical sample, such as anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder [44][45][46] . The underlying mechanism might be that gratitude allows people to explain various stimuli and life events in positive terms instead of selectively focusing on the negative aspects of the self and the world 39 . ...
... And the finding that gratitude plays a negative partial mediation role between satisfaction with government management and anxiety not only extends the association between life satisfaction and gratitude 47,48 but also has the potential clinical implication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Substantial empirical research reported the effectiveness of gratitude interventions in reducing anxiety symptoms 42,[44][45][46] . Gratitude and mindfulness are related abilities 83,84 , and indeed a recent study did show that mindfulness-based stress reduction protocol can support psychological well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown 85 . ...
In this study, we explored whether satisfaction with government management, perception of risk, and gratitude influenced public anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Using a cross-sectional, anonymous and confidential online survey, a nationwide sample of Chinese adults (N = 876) was targeted between March 25–March 30, 2020, a period in which newly confirmed cases significantly declined in China. The anxiety level was decreased as compared to that assessed during the peak period. Multiple parallel mediation modeling demonstrated that risk perception and gratitude partially mediated the relationship between satisfaction with government management and public anxiety. Increasing satisfaction and gratitude, as well as reducing risk perception contribute to the public’s mental health. The results may shed light on the positive factors for psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and may aid potential strategies for the policy maker, the public, and the clinic to regulate negative emotions or future emerging infectious diseases.
... To test the day-to-day relation between gratitude and well-being, some researchers have used the daily diary method which captures the daily fluctuations of variables and studies behaviors and experiences in a natural context (Reis et al., 2014). For instance, Kashdan et al. (2006) found that daily gratitude was positively linked with daily HWB and daily EWB in veterans. However, this study failed to investigate the lagged effects. ...
... First, we tested the same-day associations of daily HWB and daily EWB with daily gratitude. Because the converging evidence indicated that daily gratitude had a positive same-day relation with daily well-being (e.g., Kashdan et al., 2006), we assumed that gratitude would be positively correlated with both HWB and EWB at the same-day level. ...
Preceding research has demonstrated the positive relation between gratitude and well-being at the trait level, but less is known about the day-to-day association between them. This study investigated the within-person associations of gratitude with hedonic and eudaimonic well-being using a daily diary design. A sample of 363 young adults (M = 19.77, SD = 1.84) finished an online questionnaire once a day for 14 consecutive days. The results indicated that gratitude was positively related to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being on the same day, and gratitude positively predicted next-day hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, but not vice versa. We also found the reciprocal relation between the cognitive component of daily hedonic well-being (i.e., life satisfaction) and daily gratitude measured by the Gratitude Questionnaire. Moreover, these cross-lagged relations were not moderated by trait gratitude. These results provide supportive and convincing evidence for the positive effect of gratitude at the state level.
... Rasa syukur dan emosi seperti rasa empati, welas asih, rasa bersalah dan rasa malu berada pada kategori yang sama. Kashdan et al., (2006) menyatakan empati muncul saat seseorang mempunyai kesempatan untuk bereaksi terhadap kejadian buruk yang terjadi pada individu lain. Rasa bersalah dan rasa malu muncul saat individu lalai mengerjakan kewajibannya, disisi lain rasa syukur terjadi saat seseorang mendapatkan welas asih (Emmons, 2007). ...
... Rasa syukur merupakan keutamaan yang mengarahkan individu dalam meraih kehidupan yang lebih baik. Individu yang bersyukur akan memiliki sikap hidup yang lebih optimis (Kashdan et al., 2006)Te. muan konsep rasa syukur pada penelitian ini relevan teori eudaimonik yang mendasarkan pada tujuan konstitutif, yaitu adanya aktivitas kolektif dan relasi yang baik dengan sesama (Fowers & Owenz, 2010). ...
Fokus penelitian ini adalah pengujian validitas konstrak dengan menggunakan analisis faktorial dengan menggunakan analisa faktor eksploratori, kemudian dilanjutkan dengan analisa faktor konfirmatori. Analisa faktor eksploratori bertujuan untuk mengurangi jumlah aitem dalam skala sehingga aitem yang tersisa memaksimalkan varians dan reliabilitas alat ukur serta mengidentifikasi aspek-aspek potensial yang menjelaskan konstruk. Jadi analisis faktor eksploratori ditujukan untuk mengetahui muatan faktor yang besar yang ada dalam satu faktor dan tidak pada faktro lain. Analisis faktor konfirmatori bertujuan untuk melihat faktor yang digunakan atau ditetapkan untuk menyusun suatu konstruk benar-benar fit dan bersifat independensi satu sama lain. Jadi analisis faktor konfirmatori pada dasarnya digunakan untuk menguji sebuah konsep, serta menguji validitas konstrak suatu alat ukur. Sampel penelitian sebanyak 204 subjek. Analisis data dilakukan melalui SPSS untuk analisis faktor eksploratori dan SEM untuk analisis faktor konfirmatori. Hasil analisis eksploratori menunjukkan bila ada empat aspek/komponen yang terbentuk, yang memiliki eigen values diatas satu dan mampu menjelaskan 57,768% variasi. Kemudian dilakukan analisa faktor dengan memasukkan dua aspek/komponen sesuai dengan aspek yang ada pada teori. Hasil menunjukkan dua aspek ini memiliki eigen values diatas satu dan secara keseluruhan aspek-aspek tersebut mampu menjelaskan 42,740% variasi. Hasil uji analisis faktor konfirmatori menunjukkan nilai CMIN/DF sebesar 1,984 (Fit), nilai GFI sebesar 0,964 (Fit) dan nilai RMSEA sebesar 0,070 (Fit). Nilai matan faktor semua aitem diatas 0,40 (Fit). Dengan demikian dapat disimpulkan bahwa konsep dan aspek-aspek kesejahteraan subjektif yang diajukan mengukur satu variabel.
Kata Kunci: rasa syukur, analisis faktor eksploratori, analisis faktor konfirmatori
... Gratitude has also been shown in a number of studies to reduce the impact of negative experiences and events. One study found that veterans with higher levels of gratitude experienced fewer symptoms of PTSD, had stronger positive affect, and felt more self-worth (Kashdan et al., 2006). In addition, a 2015 Israeli study found that gratitude exercises can improve traumatic stress, emotional well-being, and life satisfaction in rocket attack survivors (Israel-Cohen et al., 2015). ...
... Jans-Beken (2021) also suggested that practicing gratitude can help to cope with stress and stay healthy during the pandemic. Despite the fact that there is a consistent negative relationship between stress and gratitude, much of this research has focused on gratitude as an intervention or practice (Israel-Cohen et al., 2015;Kashdan et al., 2006;Oliveira et al., 2021). It is certainly useful to consider gratitude as a form of intervention, but we believe that gratitude also has a trait component, similar to individual differences (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). ...
The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused widespread emotional distress. The current study sought to ascertain the impact of COVID stress syndrome on quality of life and gratitude. The COVID-19 Stress Scale, COVID-19 Quality of Life Scale, and Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Scale were administered to 199 Singaporeans. Data were collected online using convenience sampling between December 2020 and March 2021. Pearson correlations and hierarchical regression analyses were used to test the research hypotheses. The results showed that fear of spreading SARSCoV2 by foreigners was the most stressful fear among Singaporeans (M = 2.59), while traumatic stress by COVID-19 was the least stressful fear (M = 0.16). COVID stress syndrome was positively correlated with negative quality of life (r ranged from .25 to .66) and negatively correlated with gratitude (r ranged from −.29 to −.14). Xenophobia was also found to be the most influential factor in reducing quality of life (β = .52) and gratitude (β = −.37) during the pandemic. Study findings demonstrate how COVID-19 increases Singaporeans’ xenophobic attitudes towards foreigners, making them more vulnerable to the pandemic.
... 27 Specifically, people with higher levels of gratitude show higher levels of positive emotion and life satisfaction and lower levels of negative emotions such as depression, anxiety, and jealousy than those with lower levels of gratitude. 24 Gratitude has shown a positive effect on individuals who have experienced severe trauma, 28 and gratitude training reduces physical symptoms and negative emotions and promotes bonding in interpersonal relationships. 29 Gratitude has also been shown to act as a protective factor against psychological stress and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...
Objective This study was conducted to identify factors related to loneliness during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and focused on how the fear of COVID-19 infection affects loneliness and the conditional effect of gratitude as a moderator in the relationship among the fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and loneliness.Methods For the analysis of this study, a survey was conducted among 1,500 individuals aged 19 to 69 years living in three metropolitan areas in South Korea. Questionnaires included sociodemographic data, psychological experience and stress associated with COVID-19, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale–7, UCLA Loneliness Scale–3, and Gratitude Questionnaire–6. An analysis was conducted by applying SPSS PROCESS macro models 4 and 7.Results First, anxiety mediated the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 infection and loneliness. Second, the effect of the fear of COVID-19 infection on loneliness through anxiety was moderated by gratitude. The higher the gratitude, the more the fear of COVID-19 infection is buffered in the path to anxiety, and the lower the indirect effect on loneliness.Conclusion This suggests that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, interventions for psychological problems such as anxiety and loneliness can be carried out through gratitude, a significant protective variable.
... Gratitude as a positive belief and attitude toward the self, world, and future is incompatible with Beck's negative triad of depression (55). A study of Vietnam War veterans has demonstrated that individuals with PTSD showed significantly lower gratitude than those without PTSD (58). It suggested that interventions to increase gratitude have benefits for individuals with PTSD. ...
Background: With the spread of infectious diseases, especially coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), healthcare workers are vulnerable to mental health problems. Culture-based interventions in such critical situations are highly effective for the individuals in that cultural context.
... Gratitude as a positive belief and attitude toward the self, world, and future is incompatible with Beck's negative triad of depression (55). A study of Vietnam War veterans has demonstrated that individuals with PTSD showed significantly lower gratitude than those without PTSD (58). It suggested that interventions to increase gratitude have benefits for individuals with PTSD. ...
Background: With the spread of infectious diseases, especially coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), healthcare workers are vulnerable to mental health problems. Culture-based interventions in such critical situations are highly effective for the individuals in that cultural context. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the effect of Logotherapy Based on Rumi’s Thoughts (LBRT) on depression, anxiety, and distress in frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The present study employed a quasi-experimental controlled pre-test-post-test design with a 2-month follow-up. This interventional study was conducted on frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020. Imam Khomeini and Fatemeh Zahra hospitals were selected as the research samples, as they were the main educational and medical centers of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Iran, and provincial referral centers. A total of 32 eligible individuals were selected for experimental (n = 16) and control (n = 16) groups through the convenience sampling method. The data were collected using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Logotherapy Based on Rumi’s Thoughts included eight sessions of 90 minutes. The control group did not receive any intervention during the study. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The results revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups. The intervention group exhibited lower levels of depression and anxiety among the frontline nurses at the post-test and 2-month follow-up than the control group (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of distress at the post-test and 2-month follow-up (P > 0.001). Conclusions: The findings showed that LBRT improved anxiety and depression among frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this intervention did not significantly affect frontline nurses’ distress during the COVID-19 crisis. Further studies should examine the effectiveness of culture-based interventions in critical situations.
... Since early 2000, gratitude has demonstrated its benefits for people's adaptation, social relationships, physical health, and overall well-being. For example, Kashdan et al. (2006) found that gratitude predicts daily positive affect and self-esteem in Vietnam war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. In sports, gratitude was shown to be positively related to athletes' perceived social support and negatively related to experiencing burnout (Gabana et al., 2017). ...
For athletes, gratitude has received substantial attention because it promotes their optimal functioning both in the sport domain specifically and in everyday life generally. The literature has, however, been equivocal as to whether it is domain-general gratitude—from the top-down perspective—or domain-specific gratitude—from the bottom-up perspective—that comes first and directs the other. Clarifying the relationship is important for designing more precise interventions. In this regard, we conducted a three-year, six-wave prospective study for youth athletes to examine the dynamic relationship between domain-general and sport-specific gratitude. Our latent difference score analysis indicated that a reciprocal model between the two levels of gratitude was superior to other, nonreciprocal models, suggesting that athletes who had higher domain-general gratitude would increase in sport-specific gratitude, which in turn contributed to increased domain-general gratitude across the six time points over the three-year period. Our study contributes to gratitude theories by uncovering the potential directional relationship for various levels of gratitude.
... Several studies have shown that grateful individuals have higher levels of life satisfaction, positive emotions, and lower levels of negative emotions (Xiang and Yuan, 2021). They also have higher levels of autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose, self-acceptance, and meaning among others (Kashdan et al., 2006;Kleiman et al., 2013). Concomitantly, gratitude has been found to be negatively associated with negative indicators of well-being. ...
Gratitude has mostly been explored in relation to well-being but whether it is associated with school-related outcomes such as motivation and engagement has seldom been explored. Motivation and engagement, however, are critical to students’ academic success. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine how gratitude is associated with different types of academic motivation (amotivation, controlled motivation, and autonomous motivation) and engagement (cognitive, behavioural, and emotional). We recruited 1099 Chinese university students and asked them to answer questionnaires assessing their levels of gratitude, motivation, and engagement. Structural equation modelling revealed that gratitude was positively associated with controlled motivation, autonomous motivation, and academic engagement but negatively associated with amotivation. Autonomous motivation partially mediated the relationship between gratitude and academic engagement. The findings of this study elucidate the theoretical linkages among gratitude, motivation, and engagement, demonstrating the importance of gratitude for school-related outcomes.
... ude enhances the interaction that students have with their peers and teachers (Bono et al., 2020;Renshaw & Hindman, 2017). It helps in their self-regulation and academic motivation. In most of the psychology researches, the reflection of gratitude can affect the well-being (Chen & Wu, 2014). It increases the self-esteem in students (Li et al. 2012;Kashdan et. Al 2006;Strelan, 2007). This self-confidence helps students in their earning. Literature describes that undergraduate who present high views of their skills, gratitude, and confidence over their strengths, show higher levels of academic motivation. In comparison, low academic motivation adversely disturbs commitment and determination in higher s ...
It is known that we have entered in a challenging era when the educational systems are digitalized with a heavy reliance on digital technology. The challenge of keeping the students engaged, academically motivated, and self-regulated is common across grade levels, subject matters, and all types of institutions around the globe. This challenge is particularly relevant to the students who work alongside education to meet their finances. This study was aimed at assessing whether earning and non-earning students score differently on gratitude, self-regulation, and academic motivation during online education. A secondary objective was to assess whether gratitude and self-regulation differently associate with specific academic motivation constructs across earning and non-earning students in online education. A cross-sectional research design was used and a sample of 247 participants (M age= 24.20 years, SD = 2.25 years; earning university students = 122 & non-earning = 125) was selected and approached through an online survey. The gratitude scale, self-regulation scale, and academic motivation scale were used to assess the levels of gratitude, self-regulation, and extrinsic and intrinsic academic motivation, in the sample. Results from t test demonstrated that earning students scored significantly higher on four academic motivation outcomes including intrinsic motivation to know, intrinsic motivation towards accomplishment, extrinsic motivation of identified regulation, and extrinsic motivation of external regulation compared to non-earning students. Both the gratitude and self-regulation significantly and positively correlated with the 3 intrinsic motivation outcomes and 3 extrinsic motivation outcomes. Finally, analyzing the mediated moderation models, it was found that gratitude was strongly associated with all academic motivation constructs except extrinsic motivation of interjected regulation in earning students compared to non-earning students. Also, self-regulation significantly mediated the association of gratitude with all academic motivation constructs.
Key words: Gratitude, Intrinsic Motivation, Extrinsic Motivation, Self-regulation, Earning and Non-Earning Students, Covid 19 pandemic
... An individual's incisive stand on Divinity will make that individual steadfast and persevere when solving various problems in daily life (Grotberg, 1995). The last aspect that enhances patience and has a positive relationship with resilience is not to complain, be appreciative and think positively when facing the challenges of life (Kashdan, Uswatte, & Julian, 2006). Linley and Joseph (2004) said that an individual who is thankful and appreciative will experience positive emotions, such as feeling a sense of happiness although in times of adversity, coping better with stress and helping others to recover or rebounding from adversities (Ningrum, 2011). ...
The study examined the relationship between elements of mental illness, resilience and patience (sabr) during the COVID 19 pandemic. Resilience means the ability to survive by recovering from a situation or returning to its original shape after been compressed, stretched or bent. When the term resilience is used in psychology it means a person's ability to quickly recover from changes, sickness, accidents, or adversities. Patience is the withholding of natural inclinations to avoid inappropriate occurrences, withholding from complaining and withholding oneself (body) from doing something negative, such as slapping one's own face or tearing one's clothes when something unfortunate happens. Patience has a positive relationship with resilience, which translates to not giving up easily when faced with a direct situation. This is indicated that internal factors do strongly influence an individual's resilience.
... Pozitif psikoloji kapsamında ele alınan iyi olma kavramı öznel (hedonik) ve psikolojik (ödonomik) iyi oluş olarak iki yaklaşımda incelenmektedir (Ryan ve Deci, 2001;Warr, 2011). Öznel iyi oluş, bireyin yaşamındaki hoş duyguların deneyimi olarak ifade edilirken, psikolojik iyi oluş, bireyin yaşamın her yönünü daha uzun dönemli ve gelişim odaklı deneyimlemesi olarak ifade edilmektedir (Kashdan, Uswatte ve Julian, 2006). Psikolojik iyi oluş; insanın gelişmesini, sahip olduğu potansiyeli tam kapasite olarak kullanabilmesini temsil etmektedir (Disabato, Goodman, Kashdan, Short ve Jarden, 2016;Akt. ...
Özet
Araştırmanın amacı çalışanlar ve örgütler açısından oldukça önemli görülen iş tatmini üzerinde meslek aşkı ile psikolojik iyi oluşun rolünün belirlenmesidir. Araştırmanın örneklemini Osmaniye ilindeki 1086 kamu çalışanı oluşturmaktadır. Kolayda örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Veriler Covid-19 pandemisi nedeniyle elektronik ortamda online form (Google forms) araçları kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Araştırmada doğrulayıcı faktör analizi, tanımlayıcı istatistikler ile normallik testlerinden faydalanılmıştır. Geliştirilen hipotezleri test etmek amacıyla Pearson korelasyon analizi ve çoklu regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Analizler sonucunda meslek aşkı ve psikolojik iyi oluşun iş tatmini üzerinde pozitif yönlü anlamlı etkisi olduğu belirlenmiştir.
Abstract
The aim of the research is to determine the role of calling and psychological well-being on job satisfaction which is considered very important for employees and organizations. The sample of the research consists of 1086 public employees in Osmaniye. Convenience sampling method was used. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the data were collected electronically using online forms (Google forms). Confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive statistics and normality tests were used in the study. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to test the developed hypotheses. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that calling and psychological well-being have positive and significant effects on job satisfaction.
... Researchers have found that gratitude and eudaimonic well-being are related (Kashdan et al., 2006;Wood et al., 2009). Gratitude has been correlated with autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life, and self-acceptance, encompassing most aspects of eudaemonic well-being (Wood et al., 2009). ...
Purpose
This investigation purports to study if gratitude interventions lead to an increase in overall wellbeing among Indian youth during the coronavirus lockdown. Second, to examine if a cumulative effect of two gratitude interventions on wellbeing is greater than a single gratitude intervention.
Method
Participants (N = 80) were randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups (n = 40 each).
Result
It was found that after administering a single gratitude intervention there was a significant increase in mental health, happiness, and gratitude and a decrease in depression, anxiety, and stress in the experimental group. Moreover, after administering two gratitude interventions together, a greater increase was seen in these variables as compared to the administration of a single gratitude intervention. There was no significant change in the control group in both cases.
Conclusion
In summary, online gratitude interventions lead to increase in happiness and mental health and decrease in depression, anxiety, and stress even during crises such as the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, the cumulative effect of two gratitude interventions is more than a single gratitude intervention. It is suggested that these gratitude interventions should be included in providing mental health care even when clients are not able to meet counselors in physical settings.
... Perhaps, it is crucial to know the constructs of gratitude in foreign language learning as it may spiral learner's well-being and overcome negative emotions such as language anxiety, lack of engagement, and demotivation resulting in learner's well-being. Accordingly, gratitude bring happiness (Emmons, 2010), reduces anxiety (Wood, Froh & Geraghty, 2009), and makes us more resilient (Kashdan, Uswatte & Julian, 2006). ...
Studies on positive emotions in language learning have increased over the years. However, gratitude, a moral virtue, which may have a novel effect in learning a foreign language, remains underexplored in applied linguistics. This paper aims to know the antecedents of gratitude and its constructs in English as a foreign language context. Nineteen antecedents of gratitude were generated to create a survey questionnaire called Foreign Language Gratitude Scale, a 4-point Likert rating scale. An open-ended question was also added to gain qualitative data. Convenience sampling was used to collect data from 240 undergraduate students. Descriptive statistics results showed that the participants were very grateful in all situations in the survey, specifically for their improved outputs and the corrections initiated by their teachers. Further, principal component analysis was used to explore the underlying dimensions of gratitude. Two factors were elicited – positive reinforcement and language practice. The first factor includes the following grateful situations: encouraging students to do better, appreciating students’ output, correcting students’ mistakes, using media resources in learning, sharing practical knowledge, providing examples and practices, treating students equally, encouraging language activities, and managing classroom effectively. The grateful situations in the second factor are having fluent English speakers, doing productive activities, providing opportunities, sharing ideas, and having a better output. Other factors coded from the qualitative data include promoting collaborative work, gaining comprehension and knowledge, language success, encouraging productive activities, the teacher acts, and designing out-of-class activities. Finally, implications of results and suggestions for future studies were presented.
... To date, numerous studies have established the benefits of expressing gratitude for improved social relationships [6,24], physical health [5,10,14,25], and psychological wellbeing [7,26]. Further, two recent gratitude meta-analyses concluded that gratitude interventions outperformed measurement-only (d = 0.20), alternative activity (d = 0.17), and neutral control (d = 0.18) conditions in improving well-being [27,28]. ...
Although gratitude is typically conceptualized as a positive emotion, it may also induce socially-oriented negative feelings, such as indebtedness and guilt. Given its mixed emotional experience, we argue that gratitude motivates people to improve themselves in important life domains. Two single-time point studies tested the immediate emotional and motivational effects of expressing gratitude. We recruited employees (N = 224) from French companies in Study 1 and students (N = 1,026) from U.S. high schools in Study 2. Participants in both studies were randomly assigned to either write gratitude letters to benefactors or outline their weekly activities (control condition). Expressing gratitude led to a mixed emotional experience (e.g., greater elevation and indebtedness) for both employees and students relative to controls. Students also felt more motivated and capable of improving themselves, as well as conveyed stronger intentions to muster effort towards self-improvement endeavors.
... Perhaps, it is crucial to know the constructs of gratitude in foreign language learning as it may spiral learner's well-being and overcome negative emotions such as language anxiety, lack of engagement, and demotivation resulting in learner's well-being. Accordingly, gratitude bring happiness (Emmons, 2010), reduces anxiety (Wood, Froh & Geraghty, 2009), and makes us more resilient (Kashdan, Uswatte & Julian, 2006). ...
Studies on positive emotions in language learning have increased over the years. However, gratitude, a moral virtue, which may have a novel effect in learning a foreign language, remains underexplored in applied linguistics. This paper aims to know the antecedents of gratitude and its constructs in English as a foreign language context. Nineteen antecedents of gratitude were generated to create a survey questionnaire called Foreign Language Gratitude Scale, a 4-point Likert rating scale. An open-ended question was also added to gain qualitative data. Convenience sampling was used to collect data from 240 undergraduate students. Descriptive statistics results showed that the participants were very grateful in all situations in the survey, specifically for their improved outputs and the corrections initiated by their teachers. Further, principal component analysis was used to explore the underlying dimensions of gratitude. Two factors were elicited-positive reinforcement and language practice. The first factor includes the following grateful situations: encouraging students to do better, appreciating students' output, correcting students' mistakes, using media resources in learning, sharing practical knowledge, providing examples and practices, treating students equally, encouraging language activities, and managing classroom effectively. The grateful situations in the second factor are having fluent English speakers, doing productive activities, providing opportunities, sharing ideas, and having a better output. Other factors coded from the qualitative data include promoting collaborative work, gaining comprehension and knowledge, language success, encouraging productive activities, the teacher acts, and designing out-of-class activities. Finally, implications of results and suggestions for future studies were presented.
... It is negatively associated with negative affect (Jans-Beken et al., 2019) and self-alienation (Wood et al., 2010), and it is positively associated with positive affect (Wood et al., 2010, p. 894). Additionally, gratitude is positively related to eudaimonic well-being (Kashdan et al., 2006;Wood et al., 2009) and authentic living (Wood et al., 2010, p. 895). Although social support is itself predictive of psychological well-being (Turner, 1981), to our knowledge the association between gratitude and psychological well-being has not yet been examined among dyads. ...
Extant literature often assumes that gratitude is intrinsically positive therefore ought to be maximized. Virtue theory and social alignment theory, however, suggest gratitude is adaptive only in specific relational contexts. Drawing from find-remind-bind theory’s notion that gratitude functions to promote interactions with supportive partners in particular, we test whether it is not just the overall level of gratitude and support that bear upon personal (psychological well-being, physical health) and relational (commitment, sexual satisfaction, aggression) outcomes, but also congruence in levels of gratitude for one’s partner relative to the support they provide. Drawing from a cross-sectional survey of 874 mixed-sex married dyads (N=1,748) in the United States, we demonstrate that gratitude for a partner in excess of the support that partner provides is associated with maladaptive personal and relational outcomes. Implications and future directions are discussed.
... Dispositional gratitude can also be characterized as a trait that highlights between-person differences in how often or likely someone is to feel grateful in a specific instance. Prior research has found that higher dispositional gratitude and more frequent state-level gratitude are associated with a range of positive psychosocial outcomes, including increased prosocial behavior (Ma et al., 2017;Tsang & Martin, 2019), increased affiliation or connectedness with others (Algoe et al., 2016;Froh et al., 2010;Williams & Bartlett, 2015), and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being (Disabato et al., 2016;Kashdan et al., 2006;Wood et al., 2009). ...
Background
Dispositional gratitude has been implicated as a psychological characteristic that may modulate risk for mental health outcomes. Using a population-based sample of U.S. military veterans, this study evaluated the association between dispositional gratitude and the development of psychopathology and suicidal behaviors over a 7-year period.
Methods
A nationally representative sample of U.S. veterans was surveyed at four timepoints across seven years. Analyses were restricted to veterans without incident outcomes at baseline. Multivariable analyses were conducted to examine the relation between baseline levels of dispositional gratitude and risk of developing (a) major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); (b) suicidal ideation; and (c) suicide attempts.
Results
A total 9.6% of veterans developed MDD, GAD, and/or PTSD, 9.5% developed suicidal ideation, and 2.8% reported having attempted suicide over the 7-year follow-up period. Among veterans with high levels of dispositional gratitude, incidence was lower for MDD/GAD/PTSD (8.0%), suicidal ideation (6.8%), and suicide attempts (1.5%). Conversely, veterans with low dispositional gratitude were at substantially higher risk of developing MDD/GAD/PTSD (27.7%), suicidal ideation (33.6%), and suicide attempts (20.3%).
Conclusions
High dispositional gratitude may help protect against the development of psychopathology and suicidal behaviors in U.S. military veterans, whereas low gratitude may increase risk of developing these outcomes. Collectively, these results support the potential utility of enhancing gratitude as part of primary prevention efforts for veterans, service members, and other populations at heightened risk for adverse mental health outcomes.
... Research suggests that gratitude can buffer the negative psychological outcomes associated with stressful life events (Deichert et al., 2019). Our results add to the growing body of evidence suggesting gratitude is a beneficial tool that reduces psychological distress associated with the experience of traumatic events such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war (Fredrickson et al., 2003;Israel-Cohen et al., 2015;Kashdan et al., 2006;McCanlies et al., 2014) and global pandemics. ...
Exploring ways to mitigate the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic is important for long-term health. Expressive and gratitude-focused writing are effective methods to help individuals process traumatic or stressful events. Gratitude-focused writing may yield additional benefits because it helps individuals appraise events positively. We hypothesized that an online gratitude writing intervention would yield greater benefits than an expressive writing intervention or control group. Participants were randomized to one of three groups and completed assessments one-week and one-month post-intervention. The gratitude
writing group maintained gratitude levels and decreased stress and negative affect at one-month post-intervention. The expressive writing group decreased in gratitude and showed no changes in stress or negative affect at one-month post-intervention. The control group decreased in gratitude and negative affect and showed no changes in stress at one-month post-intervention. Gratitude writing may be a better resource for dealing with stress and negative affect than traditional expressive writing methods under extremely stressful situations
with uncertain trajectories.
... Survivors of the bombing without PTSD provided far more discussion pertaining to appreciation for life than those with PTSD, similar to the Dekel et al. study's findings (Hankin Dekel et al., 2015); however, the current study also found that survivors without PTSD were alone in discussing increased enjoyment in life after the bombing. It has been well documented in both psychological and social work literature on coping with trauma that appreciation for life and gratitude are associated with positive forms of coping (Deichert et al., 2019;Harms & Talbot, 2007;Jirek, 2017;Joseph & Murphy, 2014) and lower likelihood of PTSD (Israel- Cohen et al., 2015;Kashdan et al., 2006;Lies et al., 2014). It is possible that the ability to develop appreciation for life and gratitude after a traumatic event can increase personal resilience against psychopathology or, alternatively, that the development of psychopathology can reduce the capacity for appreciation of life and gratitude. ...
This study compared perspectives of highly trauma-exposed Oklahoma City bombing survivors (N=141) with and without PTSD. Survivors' responses to questions about the effects of the bombing on their perspectives were hand-recorded and transcribed, six themes identified, and interrater reliability established. Both diagnostic groups (with and without PTSD) expressed greater appreciation for life, greater concern with human vulnerability and mortality, and positive changes in religion/spirituality as consequences of the bombing. Survivors with PTSD also expressed negative religious/spiritual changes and substantive gains in self-confidence. Results indicate that disaster survivors may experience profound changes in their perspectives with ramifications for their mental health.
... V súčasnosti už viaceré výskumné zistenia poukazujú na pozitívne koreláty dispozičnej vďačnosti v rôznych klinických populáciách. Predispozícia k vďačnosti je napríklad prediktorom vyššej kvality života u ľudí s chronickým ochorením (Eaton et al., 2014) a tiež prediktorom prežívania pozitívnych emócií počas všedného dňa, sebaúcty, výskytu kladne hodnotených dní a vnútorne motivujúcich aktivít u vojnových veteránov s posttraumatickou stresovou poruchou (Kashdan et al., 2006). Pozitívne koreluje s mierou odpúšťania, pozitívnymi emóciami a životnou spokojnosťou a je v zápornom vzťahu s negatívnymi emóciami a symptómami depresie (Eaton et al., 2014;Sirois & Wood, 2016 Uvedené oblasti vďačnosti (ocenenie života, prepojenie s inými ľuďmi, spirituálna zmena) čiastočne korešpondujú s konštruktom posttraumatického rozvoja. ...
Práca na diaľku alebo práca z domu je spôsob, ktorý poznáme už dlhšiu dobu. Súčasná pandémia Covid 19 však tento spôsob práce o čosi viac zviditeľnila a sprostredkovala oveľa väčšiemu množstvu ľudí, ako tomu bolo v minulosti. Reakcie na takýto spôsob práce sa rôznia, od pracovníkov, ktorí tento spôsob privítali, až po reakcie na opačnom konci spektra, ktorí pociťujú rôzne typy praktických, či psychologických ťažkostí. Rôznym súvislostiam, vrátane tých psychologických sa venujú súčasné prieskumy a výskumy. Príspevok prezentuje vybrané poznatky o vnímaných výhodách a nevýhodách a faktoroch ovplyvňujúcich spokojnosť a postoje k práci z domu/ vzdialenej práci. Na záver ponúka zopár implikácií, ako prácu z domu/ vzdialenú prácu uchopiť efektívnejšie.
Working remotely or working from home (homeoffice) is a way of work we have known for a longer time. However, the current Covid 19 pandemic has made this way of working somewhat more visible and accessible to a much larger number of eployees and enterpreneurs than in the past. Reactions to this way of work vary, from workers who have welcomed this way to reactions at the other end of the spectrum who experience several practical or psychological di culties. This paper is focused on various contexts of remote work, including psychological ones. The paper introduces selected ndings and factors in uencing satisfaction and attitudes towards work from home / remote work. Finally, it o ers a few implications of how to handle work from home / remote work more e ectively.
... V súčasnosti už viaceré výskumné zistenia poukazujú na pozitívne koreláty dispozičnej vďačnosti v rôznych klinických populáciách. Predispozícia k vďačnosti je napríklad prediktorom vyššej kvality života u ľudí s chronickým ochorením (Eaton et al., 2014) a tiež prediktorom prežívania pozitívnych emócií počas všedného dňa, sebaúcty, výskytu kladne hodnotených dní a vnútorne motivujúcich aktivít u vojnových veteránov s posttraumatickou stresovou poruchou (Kashdan et al., 2006). Pozitívne koreluje s mierou odpúšťania, pozitívnymi emóciami a životnou spokojnosťou a je v zápornom vzťahu s negatívnymi emóciami a symptómami depresie (Eaton et al., 2014;Sirois & Wood, 2016 Uvedené oblasti vďačnosti (ocenenie života, prepojenie s inými ľuďmi, spirituálna zmena) čiastočne korešpondujú s konštruktom posttraumatického rozvoja. ...
Continual rise of overweight and obesity of the world‘s population represents a serious global health problem. In addition to physical health, obesity signi cantly a ects overall quality of life, well-being, mental state and social functioning. Current article deals mainly with the psychological and behavioral aspects of overweight and obesity and presents opportunities for psychological interventions.
... An individual's incisive stand on Divinity will make that individual steadfast and persevere when solving various problems in daily life (Grotberg, 1995). The last aspect that enhances patience and has a positive relationship with resilience is not to complain, be appreciative and think positively when facing the challenges of life (Kashdan, Uswatte, & Julian, 2006). Linley and Joseph (2004) said that an individual who is thankful and appreciative will experience positive emotions, such as feeling a sense of happiness although in times of adversity, coping better with stress and helping others to recover or rebounding from adversities (Ningrum, 2011). ...
... A growing number of longitudinal studies have demonstrated the positive relation between gratitude and mental health . For example, it has been found that higher levels of gratitude predict improvements in wellbeing and distress over time for various populations, such as healthy adults (Disabato et al., 2017), heart patients (Millstein et al., 2016), people with rheumatic disorders (Sirois and Wood, 2017), and war veterans (Kashdan et al., 2006). ...
This position paper proposes a model for systematic integration of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) in mental healthcare. On the one hand, PPIs can contribute to the decrease of dysfunctional processes underlying mental illness. This evidence is at the core of the new domains of positive clinical psychology and positive psychiatry. On the other hand, a growing number of studies demonstrate that mental health is not merely the absence of mental illness. Mental wellbeing represents a related but separate dimension of mental health. Mental wellbeing reduces the risk of future incidence of mental illness and is highly valued by people receiving psychological treatment as an important aspect of personal and complete recovery and personal growth. This makes mental wellbeing a vital outcome of mental healthcare. PPIs can directly increase mental wellbeing. The model of sustainable mental health is presented integrating the science of positive psychology and mental wellbeing into mental healthcare. This heuristic model can guide both practitioners and researchers in developing, implementing, and evaluating a more balanced, both complaint- and strength-oriented, treatment approach. The role of gratitude interventions is discussed as an example of applying the model. Also, three potential modalities for implementing PPIs as positive psychotherapy in treatment are as: positive psychotherapy as primary treatment, as combinatorial treatment, and as intervention for personal recovery of people with severe or persistent mental disorder. Finally, we argue that longitudinal studies are needed to substantiate the model and the processes involved.
... The psychological research into gratitude has overwhelmingly focused on the benefits of higher levels of gratitude. Grateful individuals tend to experience more daily positive emotions, fewer negative emotions (Kashdan et al., 2006), and greater overall hedonic and eudaimonic well-being (Fehr et al., 2017;Jans-Beken et al., 2019;Lyubomirsky et al., 2011;McCullough et al., 2002;Seligman et al., 2005). In addition, gratitude is linked to a number of positive emotional and social outcomes, such as increased feelings of social connectedness and greater perceived social support (Algoe, 2012;Layous et al., 2017;Wood et al., 2008), less stress (Wood et al., 2008), and reduced depressive symptoms (Lambert et al., 2012). ...
The psychological research into gratitude has overwhelmingly focused on the benefits of higher levels of gratitude. However, recent research suggests that positive psychology interventions to enhance gratitude are not always suitable and the effectiveness of an intervention depends on psycho-contextual factors, personal characteristics, and boundary conditions. The current study aimed to explore and compare the effect of two possible boundary conditions (prioritizing positivity and prioritizing meaning) on well-being levels, following a gratitude intervention. Replicating and extending the findings of the seminal 2005 study by Seligman et al., the current study explored the complex dynamics of gratitude and well-being in a sample of 448 participants. This study’s results replicated Seligman et al.’s finding suggesting a significant increase in satisfaction with life following a gratitude intervention. However, this trend was not significant when eudaimonic well-being was used as the dependent variable. Further analysis revealed that the intervention was most beneficial for people who prioritized both meaning and positivity in their lives, whereas those with different prioritizing patterns enjoyed only short-term gains. In addition, those who prioritize neither positivity nor meaning in their lives did not benefit from the intervention. This suggests implications for practitioners, mental health providers and organizations as consciously integrating the prioritization of meaning and positivity into one’s daily routines along with various gratitude activities which are aligned with one’s values and interests may contribute to gratitude interventions’ efficacy.
... Aún más, la gratitud parece fortalecer prácticamente todos los dominios de las experiencias humanas sin importar si proceden de la apreciación de la belleza del universo, de las acciones afables de los demás, o del reconocimiento de las cualidades que uno mismo adquiere en (Emmons & Stern, 2013), refiriéndose como "una emoción, una actitud, una virtud moral, un hábito, un rasgo de personalidad y una respuesta de afrontamiento" (Emmons et al., 2003, p. 327). En lo que concierne a este último aspecto, se ha encontrado que la gratitud se establece como una de las asociaciones más fuertes de la salud mental (e.g., Armenta et al., 2016;Emmons & Stern, 2013;McCullough et al., 2002), y juega un papel significativo en el camino hacia la superación o crecimiento personal tras vivenciar acontecimientos negativos, contribuyendo a la restitución de la actividad positiva diaria (e.g., soldados después de la guerra de Vietnam; Kashdan et al., 2006). Trabajos previos han demostrado en este sentido que, frente al estrés inducido por el trauma, las personas que manifiestan gratitud presentan una alta resiliencia, se recuperan rápidamente de la enfermedad, y disfrutan de un mayor bienestar físico (e.g., Armenta et al., 2016;Emmons & Stern, 2013). ...
La Comisión Nacional de Salud ha clasificado el COVID-19 (enfermedad por coronavirus 2019) como una enfermedad tipo B altamente contagiosa que requiere medidas de control y prevención, y que ha causado graves consecuencias físicas y un impacto psicológico potencialmente significativo en todo el mundo. La literatura empírica ha documentado ciertas variables psicológicas que se han observado relevantes al enfrentar experiencias de vida complejas, y que parecen asociarse con altos niveles de crecimiento personal, como son la gratitud y la compasión hacia los demás. En virtud de ello, mediante una metodología correlacional (N = 392 participantes españoles [Medad = 32.08, DT = 12.58]), se trató de examinar cómo la gratitud y la compasión se relacionaban con el crecimiento personal frente a la situación extraordinaria originada por la pandemia del COVID-19. Los resultados revelaron que la gratitud y la compasión se asociaron con un mayor crecimiento personal. Los resultados también evidenciaron que la gratitud se relacionó con un mayor crecimiento personal a través de la compasión. Se discuten estos hallazgos enfatizando en cómo las personas podrían beneficiarse de estos mecanismos psicológicos para intentar afrontar positivamente la situación del COVID-19, así como sus posibles implicaciones para la práctica terapéutica.
Gratitude education is very common in traditional Chinese education. Gratitude is both an emotion and a trait (Rash et al.,2011). It is a tendency to perceive benefits bestowed by others or by some impersonal source, and accompanied by positive, social emotions (Lin C.C.,2015). As a trait, gratitude draws attention to positive outcomes in life (Emmons et al.,2019). Furthermore, this project chooses life satisfaction and self-esteem as variables in the research. ‘Life satisfaction is a subjective evaluation of overall quality of life’，and is the key dimension of subjective well-being (Proctor et al.,2009). Self-esteem is a sense of individuals’ general value or worth from his or her aspects (Rosenberg, 1979). Self-esteem is commonly considered as the “feeling that one is good enough” (Orth & Robins,2014). Life satisfaction and self-esteem are often used in studies of gratitude，but few of them find the complicated correlations between these three factors. So the purpose of this project is to explore whether gratitude interventions can enhance gratitude and subsequently increase life satisfaction and self-esteem.
Perhaps there is no greater challenge to one’s mental well-being than concomitant intellectual and psychiatric disabilities. This chapter focuses on the history, evolution, and current state of treatment for those with a dual diagnosis. The inclusion of character strengths in treatment plans, while also working to reduce problematic behaviors, reflects the progression of societal and psychological approaches to habilitation. The core concepts, research, and application of Positive Interactive-Behavior Therapy are shared. The intersection of legal and psychological perspectives on mental health are also considered. Details on the intervention called the virtual gratitude visit are discussed.KeywordsCharacter strengthsDual diagnosisIntellectual/developmental disabilityDiagnostic Manual for People with IDDWillowbrookPositive Interactive-Behavior TherapyPsychodramaVirtual gratitude visit
The study of gratitude has begun to develop in Indonesia. Along with this development, there is a need for a measurement tool that can explain the concept of gratitude. This study aims to adapt the gratitude questionnaire (QG-6) to the Indonesian language. The study was conducted on 275 high school students in Surabaya City. The results of confirmatory factor analysis obtained 5 adequate items that have a factor loading value (> 0.5). Measurement model fit (p < 0.01, RMSEA =. 0.08, GFI = 0.98, CFI = 0.99, SRMR = 0.02.) Construct reliability on QG-5 is 0.813.
In this article, we approach outdoor leisure as a contingent, transforming cultural phenomenon and advocate for social practices that foster relationality, care, and responsibility across human and more-than-human domains. Our specific purpose is to illuminate how practices of gratitude are shaping and being shaped within the contexts of an adult nature connection apprenticeship program based in Ontario, Canada. Drawing on aspects of Bourdieu’s theory of practice and a participatory, narrative approach to inquiry, we attend to program participants’ storied experiences associated with gratitude. Our interpretations, which are reported as both dialogical representation and thematic description, show how practices of gratitude among program participants take shape through learnings and acquisitions, core routines, and senses of being and belonging. We engage these interpretations to begin mapping how gratitude unfolds and circulates in practices associated with outdoor leisure and to point out potential or necessary shifts within the habitus of outdoor leisure.
Burnout is one of the most insidious challenges for healthcare professionals, and has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gratitude is emerging as an intervention to reduce burnout. However, to the authors' best knowledge, no systematic review has previously been carried out to explore the impact of gratitude on burnout among healthcare professionals. The present study aimed to address this gap. A total of 95 publications were identified, of which 13 were included in the review. These studies provide preliminary evidence for the inverse association between gratitude and burnout, and the effectiveness of gratitude interventions in reducing burnout among healthcare professionals. Limitations of the current research and future directions are discussed, along with the implications for practice.
Problems with positive emotion are an important component of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with competing perspectives as to why. The global model suggests that people with PTSD experience a relatively permanent shift in their capacity for positive emotion regardless of context, whereas the context-specific model posits access to the full repertoire of positive emotion that only becomes reduced during exposure to trauma reminders. We tested the global versus context-specific models using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Trauma-exposed adult community members (N = 80) with (n = 39) and without diagnosed PTSD completed 3 days of EMA (n = 2,158 observations). Participants with PTSD reported lower average momentary levels of positive emotion, B = -0.947, 95% CI [-1.35, -0.54], p < .001, and positive situations, B = -0.607, 95% CI [-1.16, -0.05], p = .032, and more thinking about trauma reminders, B = 0.360, 95% CI [0.21, 0.51], p < .001. There was no between-group difference in positive emotion reactivity (degree of positive emotion derived from positive situations), B = 0.03, 95% CI [-0.09, 0.14], p = .635. Increased thinking about trauma reminders predicted lower momentary levels of positive emotion, B = -0.55, 95% CI [-0.83, -0.26], p < .001, but not reactivity, B = 0.02, 95% CI [-0.35, 0.40], p = .906, irrespective of PTSD status. Findings supported the global model and were inconsistent with the context-specific model. This study helps clarify positive emotional functioning in trauma-exposed adults and highlights future directions to better understand problems with positive emotion in PTSD.
The life of a student is not easy. They face many difficulties during this time. Future, relationships, and carrier planning all things are all part of their life. Some students handle these situations very effectively and some get confused in handling these situations. This study was conducted to look at the role of two positive factors (happiness and gratitude) of resilience. To fulfill that purpose 120 university students were selected, and suitable measures were used to gatherer information. Findings suggested a significant positive role of happiness and gratitude in resilience.
Objective
Recent research has suggested that mental health is not only the absence of mental illness but includes aspects of well-being. One common psychological assessment used to assess dimensions of well-being is the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF). The MHC-SF is a 14-item measure that assesses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The purpose of this study was to assess measurement invariance of the MHC-SF across US military veterans and civilians.
Method
First, we examined the factor structure of the MHC-SF separately for veterans (n = 418) and civilians (n = 411). We then conducted multiple group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) to assess measurement invariance for the two groups.
Results
Findings suggested there were three latent factors representing emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Results from MG-CFA suggested that the MHC-SF is invariant across veterans and civilians.
Conclusion
Researchers and practitioners can administer the MHC-SF with both groups.
This chapter describes how intentional well-being interventions integrate the development of character strengths and activation of positive emotional resources while reducing risks and alleviating symptoms of depression and poor health. The emergence of these interventions reaches back nearly half a century and each layer of development has led to a more robust platform for implementing these approaches. Now, based on the evidence-based principles of positive psychology, these positive interventions help to cultivate hope through a more balanced approach to well-being than traditional deficit-oriented methods of psychotherapy. This chapter looks at the history of development of these interventions and their likely next phase of development.
Everyday gratitude may shape affect intensity, particularly during challenging times like a pandemic. A group of 140 community-dwelling Canadian participants ( M age = 40.49 years, range: 18–83; 80% women) provided up to 10 days of daily gratitude and affect ratings during the first pandemic wave. Multilevel models show that everyday gratitude was associated with higher positive affect and lower negative affect, independent of age; age was positively correlated with the number of social gratitude events. Participants reported lower negative affect if a social gratitude event involved more than less diverse social partners. The findings point to the merit of examining time-varying associations in gratitude as a potential resource for everyday affect across the adult lifespan.
Gratitude has been recognized as virtuous for centuries, but steady psychological research only emerged in the last few decades. Ample evidence has accumulated in a short time that gratitude is associated with better mental health outcomes—in terms of less mental illness and more psychological well-being. This article opens with a broad view of gratitude in terms of its implications for human development. Then we summarize empirical findings on gratitude's advantages to the functioning and well-being of youth and adults. We propose that gratitude fosters mental health and well-being because it is linked to many aspects of positive functioning and because it engages various mechanisms to benefit well-being. In conclusion, gratitude may instill many positive habits for people of various ages to be happy and flourish.
The limited organizational scholarship on past adversity has characterized it as something to cope with, positing that how past adversity is perceived is key to employees’ coping effectiveness (Nurmohamed et al., 2021; Stephens et al., 2015; Vogel & Bolino, 2020). Conversely, lay theory suggests that “what does not kill you makes you stronger.” Through this dissertation, I aim to provide empirical evidence for this claim in an organizational setting. To do so, I draw on positive identity growth theorizing (Maitlis, 2009; 2020) to empirically examine the organizational benefits of identity growth after experiences of overcoming adversity. In doing so, I introduce a new concept to the organizational behavior literature, an “overcoming adversity identity,” which is when an experience of hardship, whether singular or continuous, has been redeemed in the eyes of the person with that experience, thereby becoming a positive part of that person’s identity. Through two longitudinal studies and one randomized experimental intervention, I find promising evidence that having a stronger overcoming adversity identity is associated with interpersonal, intrapersonal, and intellectual character enrichment (the tripartite model of character; Park et al., 2017). I also find some evidence that suggests that this character enrichment, in turn, is positively related to extra-role performance and in-role performance, and negatively related to burnout. Implications and future directions are discussed. In conclusion, this dissertation provides preliminary empirical evidence to suggest that indeed, what does not kill you can make you stronger.
Recently, a five-session Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) was proposed as a novel intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One purported outcome of and mechanism underlying PPMT's effects on PTSD is improved positive affect processes. In this uncontrolled pilot study, we examined whether PPMT was associated with decreases in PTSD severity; and whether changes in positive affect levels, reactivity, and dysregulation related to changes in PTSD severity across sessions. The sample included 16 trauma-exposed participants seeking services at a University Psychology Clinic (Mage=27.44 years; 68.80% women). Multilevel linear growth models examined the main effects of each positive affect variable and their interactions with time on PTSD severity. PTSD severity decreased across PPMT treatment in each model (bs=-0.43 to -0.33; d=-0.03; ps<.001-0.008). There was a main effect of positive emotion dysregulation (b=1.16, d=0.11; p=0.009), but not of positive affect levels (p=0.821) or reactivity (p=0.356) on PTSD severity. However, positive affect processes did not modify the trajectory of PTSD severity across treatment. Regarding PTSD symptom clusters, there was an interaction between positive affect levels and time on alterations in arousal and reactivity (AAR) cluster severity (b=-0.01, p=0.036); individuals with positive affect levels 1 SD above the mean (b=-0.18, p<0.01) and at the mean (b=-0.10, p=0.01) had greater decreases in AAR cluster severity across treatment compared to individuals with positive affect levels 1 SD below the mean (b=-0.02, p=0.710). Findings suggest that PPMT may relate to improved PTSD symptoms; and that positive affect levels/dysregulation may be worthwhile targets for future investigations.
In this research it is aimed to test the effectiveness of junior high school students writing gratitude journals on gratitude.
The research group constitutes students who attend secondary school in a public school and volunteer to participate in the research. The research was carried out on two groups, one experimental group and one control group. There were 23
participants in the experimental group and 24 participants in the control group. In the scope of the research, Gratitude Scale and Subjective Well-Being Scale for Adolescents were used. Data were collected three times in the research process; pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test. After the pre-test was applied, a training seminar on gratitude was given to the experimental group. In this seminar, students were told about what they can be grateful for and how they can be
expressed. After the training seminar, the experimental group was asked to write daily in gratitude diaries created by the
researchers based on the balance model of positive psychotherapy for 21 days. At the end of 21 days, the last time was
collected, and the final test data were collected. Finally, the follow up data were collected 10 weeks after the end of the
study and the study was terminated. The data were analyzed using the Mann Whitney U Test and the Wilcoxon Signed
Ranks Test and the Friedman Test. Examination of the test results for the experimental and control groups revealed that
the experimental group differed significantly from the control group in terms of gratitude and subjective well-being. In addition to these findings, according to the Wilcoxon Test results, the individuals in the experimental group got significantly higher scores in terms of gratitude and subjective well-being in the posttests than in the pretest scores. In
the control group, there was no difference between the pretest and posttest scores. According to the Friedman test results used for the follow-up test analysis, the positive effect in the experimental group continues in the follow-up test.
It was observed that individuals in the control group got significantly lower scores in the follow-up tests compared to gratitude and subjective well-being scores. According to the results of the follow-up test, it was understood that the effectiveness of the writing exercise continued. According to these findings, it was determined that the practice of
writing gratitude diaries increased the gratitude and subjective well-being levels of adolescents
In this research it is aimed to test the effectiveness of junior high school students writing gratitude journals on gratitude.
The research group constitutes students who attend secondary school in a public school and volunteer to participate in
the research. The research was carried out on two groups, one experimental group and one control group. There were 23
participants in the experimental group and 24 participants in the control group. In the scope of the research, Gratitude
Scale and Subjective Well-Being Scale for Adolescents were used. Data were collected three times in the research
process; pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test. After the pre-test was applied, a training seminar on gratitude was given
to the experimental group. In this seminar, students were told about what they can be grateful for and how they can be
expressed. After the training seminar, the experimental group was asked to write daily in gratitude diaries created by the
researchers based on the balance model of positive psychotherapy for 21 days. At the end of 21 days, the last time was
collected, and the final test data were collected. Finally, the follow up data were collected 10 weeks after the end of the
study and the study was terminated. The data were analyzed using the Mann Whitney U Test and the Wilcoxon Signed
Ranks Test and the Friedman Test. Examination of the test results for the experimental and control groups revealed that
the experimental group differed significantly from the control group in terms of gratitude and subjective well-being. In
addition to these findings, according to the Wilcoxon Test results, the individuals in the experimental group got
significantly higher scores in terms of gratitude and subjective well-being in the posttests than in the pretest scores. In
the control group, there was no difference between the pretest and posttest scores. According to the Friedman test
results used for the follow-up test analysis, the positive effect in the experimental group continues in the follow-up test.
It was observed that individuals in the control group got significantly lower scores in the follow-up tests compared to
gratitude and subjective well-being scores. According to the results of the follow-up test, it was understood that the
effectiveness of the writing exercise continued. According to these findings, it was determined that the practice of
writing gratitude diaries increased the gratitude and subjective well-being levels of adolescents.
This research focuses on the potential positive effects of time spent on Instagram, a visual-based social media tool, on Gen Y and Z gratitude, altruism, and willingness to donate to charities. Despite the prevalence in the media of Instagram’s negative effects on consumers’ well-being, our research suggests time spent on it might have an instant positive effect on consumers. Specifically, our three studies show the average and heavy Instagram users express more gratitude, feel more altruistic, and end up donating more than light users. We discuss the results in light of the role of hedonism and escape from negative feelings as mechanism explaining the effect. We offer theoretical and managerial implications of these results and discuss the role of Instagram to better promote a responsible and well-being oriented use of Instagram by companies and organizations.
The life of a student is not easy. They face many difficulties during this time. Future, relationships, and carrier planning all things are all part of their life. Some students handle these situations very effectively and some get confused in handling these situations. This study was conducted to look at the role of two positive factors (happiness and gratitude) of resilience. To fulfill that purpose 120 university students were selected, and suitable measures were used to gather information. Findings suggested a significant positive role of happiness and gratitude in resilience.
Gratitude has been linked with normal human functioning and well-being yet, its association with happiness and life satisfaction remains understudied among non clinical samples in collectivist cultures. Most studies on gratitude are focused on clinical settings and in individualist cultures. This study investigates the predictive strength of gratitude and purpose in life on life satisfaction among university undergraduates in Nigeria. Using a cross sectional research design, 390 university students were selected from 2 (public and private) universities. A questionnaire on socio-demographic profile, gratitude scale(r=0.84), purpose in life scale(r=0.96) and life satisfaction scale (r=0.90) was administered to participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and regression analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Three hypotheses were tested. The results revealed that gratitude and purpose in life jointly and independently predicted life satisfaction (R 2 = .24; F = 62.56; p<.05). Being grateful and having purpose are crucial for a comprehensive examination of life satisfaction.
This study examines the correlation between psychological resilience, patience, and happiness among 438 tertiary students in the Philippines taking education courses. Correlation research suggests A moderate positive association was found between happiness and psychological resilience (r=.528). It was determined that there is a moderately positive correlation between happiness and patience (r=.313). It was found that there is a moderate positive correlation between patience and psychological resilience (r=.356). Thus, implications of the study were presented.
We examined the virtues of optimism, hope, and gratitude as potential correlates and predictors of posttraumatic stress (PTS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in a sample of trauma survivors (N = 151). Results indicated that each of these qualities significantly correlated with PTS and PTG. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that optimism, hope, and gratitude each significantly predicted PTS, with hope being the greatest predictor of PTG. Clinical implications for professional counselors are discussed.
Bu araştırmanın temel amacı, beliren ve orta yetişkinlik döneminde bulunan bireylerin minnettarlık ile ilgili görüşlerinin belirlenmesi ve bu iki grubun görüşleri arasındaki benzerliklerin ve farklılıkların ortaya konulmasıdır. Araştırmada, nitel araştırma desenlerinden olgubilim yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Bu çalışma 2019-2020 yılları arasında Türkiye’nin değişik bölgelerinde yaşayan, farklı yaşlarda, mesleklerde ve öğrenim düzeylerinde yer alan; 20 beliren (18-25 yaş arası) ve 20 orta yetişkinlik (26-45 yaş arası) döneminde bulunan 40 katılımcı ile yürütülmüştür. Bu araştırmanın katılımcıları amaçlı örnekleme yöntemleri içerisinde yer alan tabakalı amaçsal örnekleme yöntemine göre seçilmiştir. Veriler araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan kişisel bilgi formu ve yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu aracılığıyla online olarak yapılan görüşmeler ile toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde içerik analizi yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre beliren ve orta yetişkinlik döneminde bulunan bireylerin; minnettarlığın tanımı, minnettarlık hissedilen durumlar, minnettarlığın ifade edilmesi, minnettarlığın davranışsal ve duygusal karşılığı, sosyal yaşama katkısı ve önündeki engellere dair yaklaşımlarının büyük oranda benzer olduğu anlaşılmıştır. Ancak az da olsa bu iki grubun minnettarlığa bakış açılarının birbirlerinden ayrıldığı noktalar göze çarpmaktadır. Araştırmadan elde edilen bu bulgular, alanyazın ışığında tartışılmış ve sonuçlarla ilgili öneriler geliştirilmiştir.
Objectives:
To (1) describe the level of hope, optimism, and gratitude in a sample of minority health professional college students. (2) To examine the association between hope, optimism, and gratitude with wellbeing domains. Participants: One hundred and thirty-two (n = 132) college students from the Nursing, Medicine, and Allied Health programs. Methods: Cross-sectional survey study assessed wellbeing across the five domains of positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. Results: Mean and Standard Deviation on hope, optimism, and gratitude were 50.2 ± 5.6; 21.7 ± 4.34; and 36.3 ± 5.35, respectively. Hope, optimism, and gratitude were positively associated with domains of wellbeing, controlling for gender and age. Conclusion: Students maintained a positive outlook in life. Hopeful, op6timistic, and grateful students experienced positive emotion, were more engaged in their daily activities, had more supportive relationships, had a better sense of direction in life, and more often accomplished their goals. Interpretations and future directions are discussed.
Power and gratitude are universal features of social life and impact a wide range of intra- and interpersonal outcomes. Drawing on the social distance theory of power, we report four studies that examine how relative power influences feelings and expressions of gratitude. An archival analysis of author acknowledgements in published academic articles ( N = 1,272) revealed that low-power authors expressed more gratitude than high-power authors. A pre-registered experiment ( N = 283) involving live conversations online found that having relatively low power caused increased feelings and expressions of gratitude after benefiting from a favor. Another pre-registered experiment ( N = 356) demonstrated that increased interpersonal orientation among lower power individuals and increased psychological entitlement among higher power individuals drove these effects. Finally, an archival analysis of conversational exchanges ( N = 136,215) among Wikipedia editors revealed that relational history moderated the effect of relative power on gratitude expression. Overall, our findings highlight when and why relative power influences feelings and expressions of gratitude.
This review organizes a variety of phenomena related to emotional self-report. In doing so, the authors offer an accessibility model that specifies the types of factors that contribute to emotional self-reports under different reporting conditions. One important distinction is between emotion, which is episodic, experiential, and contextual, and beliefs about emotion, which are semantic, conceptual, and decontextualized. This distinction is important in understanding the discrepancies that often occur when people are asked to report on feelings they are currently experiencing versus those that they are not currently experiencing. The accessibility model provides an organizing framework for understanding self-reports of emotion and suggests some new directions for research.
Working largely independently, numerous investigators have explored the role of self-focused attention in various clinical disorders. This article reviews research examining increased self-focused attention in these disorders. Using information processing constructs, a model of self-focused attention is proposed, and it is suggested that certain deviations in this process constitute a psychopathological kind of attention. A meta-construct model of descriptive psychopathology is then outlined to examine how certain aspects of attention can be considered specific to certain disorders and others common to different disorders
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common reaction to traumatic events. Many people recover in the ensuing months, but in a significant subgroup the symptoms persist, often for years. A cognitive model of persistence of PTSD is proposed. It is suggested that PTSD becomes persistent when individuals process the trauma in a way that leads to a sense of serious, current threat. The sense of threat arises as a consequence of: (1) excessively negative appraisals of the trauma and/or ist sequelae and (2) a disturbance of autobiographical memory characterised by poor elaboration and contextualisation, strong associative memory and strong perceptual priming. Change in the negative appraisals and the trauma memory are prevented by a series of problematic behavioural and cognitive strategies. The model is consistent with the main clinical features of PTSD, helps explain several apparently puzzling phenomena and provides a framework for treatment by identifying three key targets for change. Recent studies provided preliminary support for several aspects of the model.
Evaluative processes refer to the operations by which organisms discriminate threatening from nurturant environments. Low activation of positive and negative evaluative processes by a stimulus reflects neutrality, whereas high activation of such processes reflects maximal conflict. Attitudes, an important class of manifestations of evaluative processes, have traditionally been conceptualized as falling along a bipolar dimension, and the positive and negative evaluative processes underlying attitudes have been conceptualized as being reciprocally activated, making the bipolar rating scale the measure of choice. Research is reviewed suggesting that this bipolar dimension is insufficient to portray comprehensively positive and negative evaluative processes and that the question is not whether such processes are reciprocally activated but under what conditions they are reciprocally, nonreciprocally, or independently activated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Several literatures converge on the idea that approach and positive affect related to goal pursuit are managed by one self-regulatory system and that avoidance (or withdrawal) and negative affect related to threats are managed by a second self-regulatory system. After briefly reviewing these literatures, the authors consider the relation of these themes to the broader domain of personality. In particular, they map individual differences in the responsivity of the approach system onto the personality dimension of extraversion and map individual differences in the responsivity of the withdrawal system onto the dimension of neuroticism. This mapping requires a slight refocusing of current conceptions of extraversion and neuroticism. However, such a refocusing brings a gain as well as a cost: In particular, it would embed these dimensions more explicitly in a process-oriented conceptualization of action control.
Quality ties to others are universally endorsed as central to optimal living. Social scientists have extensively studied the relational world, but in somewhat separate literatures (e.g., attachment, close relationships, marital and family ties, social support). Studies of intimacy and close connection are infrequently connected to health, whereas studies of health and social support rarely intersect with literatures on relational flourishing. Efforts to probe underlying physiological processes have been disproportionately concerned with the negative (e.g., adverse effects of relational conflict). A worthy goal for the new millennium is promoting greater cross talk between these realms via a focus on the positive health implications of interpersonal flourishing. Vital venues for the future include mapping the emotional configurations of quality social relationships and elaborating their physiological substrates.
The primary objectives of this article are (a) to put forth an explicit operational formulation of positive human health that goes beyond prevailing "absence of illness" criteria; (b) to clarify that positive human health does not derive from extant medical considerations, which are not about wellness, but necessarily require a base in philosophical accounts of the "goods" in life; (c) to provoke a change of emphasis from strong tendencies to construe human health as exclusively about the mind or the body toward an integrated and positive spiral of mind-body influences; (d) to delineate possible physiological substrates of human flourishing and offer future directions for understanding the biology of positive health; and (e) to discuss implications of positive health for diverse scientific agendas (e.g., stress, class and health, work and family life) and for practice in health fields (e.g., training, health examinations, psychotherapy, and wellness intervention programs).
W. Wilson's (1967) review of the area of subjective well-being (SWB) advanced several conclusions regarding those who report high levels of "happiness." A number of his conclusions have been overturned: youth and modest aspirations no longer are seen as prerequisites of SWB. E. Diener's (1984) review placed greater emphasis on theories that stressed psychological factors. In the current article, the authors review current evidence for Wilson's conclusions and discuss modern theories of SWB that stress dispositional influences, adaptation, goals, and coping strategies. The next steps in the evolution of the field are to comprehend the interaction of psychological factors with life circumstances in producing SWB, to understand the causal pathways leading to happiness, understand the processes underlying adaptation to events, and develop theories that explain why certain variables differentially influence the different components of SWB (life satisfaction, pleasant affect, and unpleasant affect). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Evaluative processes refer to the operations by which organisms discriminate threatening from nurturant environments. Low activation of positive and negative evaluative processes by a stimulus reflects neutrality, whereas high activation of such processes reflects maximal conflict. Attitudes, an important class of manifestations of evaluative processes, have traditionally been conceptualized as falling along a bipolar dimension, and the positive and negative evaluative processes underlying attitudes have been conceptualized as being reciprocally activated, making the bipolar rating scale the measure of choice. Research is reviewed suggesting that this bipolar dimension is insufficient to portray comprehensively positive and negative evaluative processes and that the question is not whether such processes are reciprocally activated but under what conditions they are reciprocally, nonreciprocally, or independently activated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Gratitude is conceptualized as a moral affect that is analogous to other moral emotions such as empathy and guilt. Gratitude has 3 functions that can be conceptualized as morally relevant: (a) a moral barometer function (i.e., it is a response to the perception that one has been the beneficiary of another person's moral actions); (b) a moral motive function (i.e., it motivates the grateful person to behave prosocially toward the benefactor and other people); and (c) a moral reinforcer function (i.e., when expressed, it encourages benefactors to behave morally in the future). The personality and social factors that are associated with gratitude are also consistent with a conceptualization of gratitude as an affect that is relevant to people's cognitions and behaviors in the moral domain.
Twice a week for up to 10 weeks, 103 participants provided measures of their daily self-concept clarity (SCC), mood (negative affect [NA] and positive affect [PA]), and self-esteem (SE), and they described the events that occurred each day. Multilevel random coefficient modeling analyses found that daily SCC covaried with daily positive and negative events, with daily NA, and with daily SE. None of these relationships was moderated by trait levels of SE, SCC, PA, NA, or measures of depressogenic self-concept, anxiety, or depressive symptoms. Analyses that simultaneously included SE, mood, and events suggested that relationships between daily SCC and daily events were mediated by daily NA and daily SE. Such mediation suggests that daily events lead to changes in mood and SE, which in turn lead to changes in SCC. Additional analyses found that temporal variability of SE, PA, NA, and SCC was negatively correlated with trait SCC.
Increasingly, social and personality psychologists are conducting studies in which data are collected simultaneously at multiple levels, with hypotheses concerning effects that involve multiple levels of analysis. In studies of naturally occurring social interaction, data describing people and their social interactions are collected simultaneously. This article discuses how to analyze such data using random coefficient modeling. Analyzing data describing day-to-day social interaction is used to illustrate the analysis of event-contingent data (when specific events trigger or organize data collection), and analyzing data describing reactions to daily events is used to illustrate the analysis of interval-contingent data (when data are collected at intervals). Different analytic strategies are presented, the shortcomings of ordinary least squares analyses are described, and the use of multilevel random coefficient modeling is discussed in detail. Different modeling techniques, the specifics of formulating and testing hypotheses, and the differences between fixed and random effects are also considered.
In this chapter we suggest that “happiness,” or high subjective wellbeing, is more strongly associated with the frequency
and duration of people’s positive feelings, not with the intensity of those feelings. People who rarely or never feel euphoria,
for instance, can nonetheless report very high levels of well-being. We hypothesize that there are several reasons that subjective
well-being is more strongly associated with the amount of time people feel positive versus negative feelings rather than with
the intensity of their positive feelings. Intense positive feelings often have costs, including a tendency to more intense
negative feelings in negative situations. Another hypothesis is that it is more difficult to accurately measure the intensity
of feelings than their time-course, and this makes the amount of time people feel positive more amenable to study with self-report
methods. The intensity of people’s positive emotions should not be ignored, but should be studied in combination with the
time-course (frequency and duration) of positive and negative feelings.
Despite broad agreement that understanding a personality construct requires integrating trait and state levels of analysis, few studies have explicitly attempted such an integration. The present study did this by examining the relationships between trait and state measures of empathy. State measures were taken daily, with a focus on the day level (within-person) covariation between empathy and daily mood and events. Twice a week for up to 10 weeks, 103 participants provided measures of their daily empathy and mood (NA and PA) and described the events that occurred each day. Multilevel random coefficient modeling analyses found that daily empathy covaried positively with the impact of daily positive and negative social events and with daily positive and negative affect. Empathy did not covary with achievement-related events. Analyses that simultaneously included empathy, mood, and events suggested that daily NA mediated relationships between daily empathy and daily negative social events. Although mean daily empathy was positively related to trait empathy, trait empathy did not moderate relationships between daily empathy and events nor between daily empathy and mood. Moreover, daily empathy did not covary with daily depressogenic thinking, need for cognition, nor self-esteem, suggesting that empathy is distinct from these constructs. Possible mechanisms linking social events and empathy, such as emotional contagion, are discussed.
Working largely independently, numerous investigators have explored the role of self-focused attention in various clinical disorders. This article reviews research examining increased self-focused attention in these disorders. Results indicate that regardless of the particular disorder under investigation, a heightened degree of self-focused attention is found. Hence, as ordinarily conceptualized, self-focused attention has little discriminatory power among different psychological disorders. Using information processing constructs, a somewhat different model of self-focused attention is proposed, and it is suggested that certain deviations in this process constitute a psychopathological kind of attention. A meta-construct model of descriptive psychopathology is then outlined to examine how certain aspects of attention can be considered specific to certain disorders and others common to different disorders.
The Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a 35-item self-report scale derived from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for the disorder. This article describes a series of three studies designed to explore the psychometric properties of the scale. Study 1 used 362 Vietnam veterans seeking help at Vet Centers (Operation Outreach) to confirm the internal consistency of the instrument and provide an assessment of its factor structure. Study 2 demonstrated the high test—retest reliability of the instrument over a period of 1 week. Study 3 indicated that the test’s sensitivity was .93, specificity was .89, and overall hit rate was .90 when it was used to differentiate between a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) group and two non-PTSD comparison groups. The utility of the test when it is administered within the context of a multiaxial approach to assess military-related PTSD is discussed.
In this review, the authors examine the evidence linking social support to physiological processes and characterize the potential mechanisms responsible for these covariations. A review of 81 studies revealed that social support was reliably related to beneficial effects on aspects of the cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems. An analysis of potential mechanisms underlying these associations revealed that (a) potential health-related behaviors do not appear to be responsible for these associations; (b) stress-buffering effects operate in some studies; (c) familial sources of support may be important; and (d) emotional support appears to be at least 1 important dimension of social support. Recommendations and directions for future research include the importance of conceptualizing social support as a multidimensional construct, examination of potential mechanisms across levels of analyses, and attention to the physiological process of interest.
Extrapolating from B. L. Fredrickson's (1998, 2001) broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, the authors hypothesized that positive emotions are active ingredients within trait resilience. U.S. college students (18 men and 28 women) were tested in early 2001 and again in the weeks following the September 11th terrorist attacks. Mediational analyses showed that positive emotions experienced in the wake of the attacks - gratitude, interest, love, and so forth - fully accounted for the relations between (a) precrisis resilience and later development of depressive symptoms and (b) precrisis resilience and postcrisis growth in psychological resources. Findings suggest that positive emotions in the aftermath of crises buffer resilient people against depression and fuel thriving, consistent with the broaden-and-build theory. Discussion touches on implications for coping.
The effect of a grateful outlook on psychological and physical well-being was examined. In Studies 1 and 2, participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 experimental conditions (hassles, gratitude listing, and either neutral life events or social comparison); they then kept weekly (Study 1) or daily (Study 2) records of their moods, coping behaviors, health behaviors, physical symptoms, and overall life appraisals. In a 3rd study, persons with neuromuscular disease were randomly assigned to either the gratitude condition or to a control condition. The gratitude-outlook groups exhibited heightened well-being across several, though not all, of the outcome measures across the 3 studies, relative to the comparison groups. The effect on positive affect appeared to be the most robust finding. Results suggest that a conscious focus on blessings may have emotional and interpersonal benefits.
In four studies, the authors examined the correlates of the disposition toward gratitude. Study 1 revealed that self-ratings and observer ratings of the grateful disposition are associated with positive affect and well-being prosocial behaviors and traits, and religiousness/spirituality. Study 2 replicated these findings in a large nonstudent sample. Study 3 yielded similar results to Studies 1 and 2 and provided evidence that gratitude is negatively associated with envy and materialistic attitudes. Study 4 yielded evidence that these associations persist after controlling for Extraversion/positive affectivity, Neuroticism/negative affectivity, and Agreeableness. The development of the Gratitude Questionnaire, a unidimensional measure with good psychometric properties, is also described.
It is argued that this book (see record 1999-04118-000) contains some interesting overview-type chapters that identify one aspect of self-reports and that provide researchers with findings that either help them to design their questionnaires so that they obtain more veridical self-reports or at least help them to interpret self-report findings accurately. However, some chapters put heavy emphasis on self-report in medical contexts and clinical practice. Researchers who work in other domains of the behavioral and social sciences may be disappointed to find that they book does not contain, among others, chapters on self-reports of stereotypes, attitudes, evaluations, and self-esteem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
In recent studies of the structure of affect, positive and negative affect have consistently emerged as two dominant and relatively independent dimensions. A number of mood scales have been created to measure these factors; however, many existing measures are inadequate, showing low reliability or poor convergent or discriminant validity. To fill the need for reliable and valid Positive Affect and Negative Affect scales that are also brief and easy to administer, we developed two 10-item mood scales that comprise the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The scales are shown to be highly internally consistent, largely uncorrelated, and stable at appropriate levels over a 2-month time period. Normative data and factorial and external evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the scales are also presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
Posted 3/2000. Develops the hypothesis that intervention strategies that cultivate positive emotions are particularly suited for preventing and treating problems rooted in negative emotions, such as anxiety, depression, aggression, and stress related health problems. B. L. Fredrickson's (1998) broaden-and-build model of positive emotions provides the foundation for this application. According to this model, the form and function of positive and negative emotions are distinct and complementary. Negative emotions narrow an individual's momentary thought–action repertoire toward specific actions that served the ancestral function of promoting survival. By contrast, positive emotions broaden an individual's momentary thought–action repertoire, which in turn can build that individual's enduring personal resources. One implication of the broaden-and-build model is that positive emotions have an undoing effect on negative emotions. A range of intervention and coping strategies are reviewed. These strategies optimize health and well-being to the extent that they cultivate positive emotions. Cultivated positive emotions not only counteract negative emotions, but also broaden individuals' habitual modes of thinking and build their personal resources for coping.
Objective:
This investigation assessed whether current post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was associated with impaired functioning in a nationally representative sample of female Vietnam veterans.
Methods:
Logistic models were used to determine the association between PTSD and outcome while adjusting for demographic characteristics and medical and psychiatric co-morbidities.
Results:
PTSD was associated with significantly elevated odds of poorer functioning in five of the six outcome domains; only the association between perpetration of violence in the past year and PTSD did not achieve statistical significance. After adjusting for demographics and medical and psychiatric co-morbidities, PTSD remained associated with significantly elevated odds of bed days, poorer physical health, and currently not working.
Conclusions:
Among female Vietnam veterans PTSD is associated with a broad profile of functional impairment. The significantly increased odds of impaired functioning and diminished quality of life suggest that PTSD may be the core problem of the set of problems afflicting female Vietnam veterans.
Examines thinking and research relevant to the self-expansion model of motivation and cognition in close relationships. It begins with an explanation of the key elements of the model, followed by a comment on the utility of a model of this kind in terms of the role of metaphor in science. The chapter then considers 2 key processes suggested by the model, discussing the theoretical foundation and research relevant to each. These 2 processes are, first, that relationship satisfaction is increased through the association of the relationship with self-expansion and, second, that the relationship means cognitively that each partner has included the other in his or her self. Implications of the model for 3 other relationship-relevant issues (selectivity in attraction, motivations for unrequited love, and the effects on the self of falling in love) are considered. Concludes with a brief consideration of other relationship-relevant ramifications of the model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Examined relations between social activity and state and trait measures of Positive and Negative Affect. In Study 1, Ss completed scales relevant to 3-factor models of personality and a weekly mood and social activity questionnaire for 13 wks. In Study 2, Ss completed measures of the 5-factor model of personality and a daily mood and social activity survey for 6–7 wks. In within- and between-Ss analyses, socializing correlated significantly with state measures of Positive Affect and with trait measures of Extraversion/Positive Emotionality. These relations were relatively general across various types of positive affect and social events; however, specific types of social events also were differentially related to affect. In contrast, social activity had no consistent association with measures of Negative Affect or the other personality dimensions. The results support a temperamental view of Extraversion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Are emotions essentially an individual-subjective phenomenon, or are they broader in scope? Do emotions mainly represent what the individual feels ‘inside’ or do they also carry implications for the social context? Questions such as these were in the background of the present research that has examined the way emotions are viewed, understood, and experienced by young and older adult men and women (ranging in age from 18 to 50) in two cultural environments, Germany and the US. Overall, the results revealed distinctly different patterns of age and sex differences in the evaluation and experience of emotions for Americans and Germans. In addition, the study identified specific emotions (e.g. gratitude, despair, rage) that seem to have different connotations and associations for individuals in the two cultural groups. Interpretation of the findings emphasizes connections between the emotional life and emotional understanding of the individual and broad sociocultural themes. It is argued that social context is an important feature of emotion requiring more extensive consideration is psychological theory and research on emotion.
daily variations may be understood in terms of the degree to which three basic needs, autonomy, competence, and related-ness, are satisfied in daily activity. Hierarchical linear models were used to examine this hypothesis across 2 weeks of daily activ-ity and well-being reports controlling for trait-level individual differences. Results strongly supported the hypothesis. The authors also examined the social activities that contribute to sat-isfaction of relatedness needs. The best predictors were meaning-ful talk and feeling understood and appreciated by interaction partners. Finally, the authors found systematic day-of-the-week variations in emotional well-being and need satisfaction. These results are discussed in terms of the importance of daily activities and the need to consider both trait and day-level determinants of well-being.
This article uses service utilization and outcome data from the specialized posttraumatic stress disorder outpatient programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to illustrate a method of evaluating the required intensity of outpatient psychiatric treatment. The analyses presented suggest that posttraumatic stress disorder treatment programs could offer intensive services for only the first four months of treatment, followed by a reduction in intensity to an average of only one visit per month, without loss of clinical gains. Workload projections suggest that applying such standards under a system of regulatory control would allow a 17%–51% increase in patients treated.
Thirty-seven male veterans with combat-related PTSD completed measures of hostile automatic thoughts, hope, and positive and negative affect. Responses to the items of each measure were presented in two formats: (a) the veteran's feelings today and (b) (on a separate form) how he felt while in combat. Veterans reported significantly higher levels of hostility and negative affect in combat as opposed to today. Contrary to predictions, high levels of both positive affect and automatic positive thoughts also were reported in combat relative to today. Hope levels varied primarily as a function of being employed rather than unemployed. The implications and limitations of this methodology and these findings for combat veterans and other groups are discussed.
The paper reviews and considers the existing cognitive and behavioral accounts for the acquisition and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder. Mowrer's two-stage theory as applied to rape victims and Vietnam veterans is critically reviewed. It was concluded that traditional S-R learning theories can adequately account for fear and avoidance consequent to a traumatic event, as well as the greater generalization as compared to simple phobics. However, these theories do not explain the remaining PTSD symptoms. The literature on experimental neurosis predicts that uncontrollable and unpredictable events produce responses that are highly reminiscent of PTSD irrespective of stimulus intensity and complexity. An additional shortcoming of S-R theory is the difficulty in incorporating meaning concepts which are so central to PTSD. Evidence for the necessity of a theory to accommodate meaning concepts is the finding that perceived threat is a better predictor of PTSD than actual threat. Therefore, we have presented a theoretical framework developed by Foa & Kozak (1986) which accommodates meaning concepts in explaining mechanisms of fear reduction and adapted this theory to PTSD.
Emotional numbing symptoms are considered in the clinical literature as cardinal signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have been formally codified in DSM-III-R. However, the term has not been consistently defined nor adequately researched. The present paper critically reviews the extant empirical and theoretical literature in combat-related PTSD that has explored emotional numbing symptoms. A theoretical framework, based on Levanthal's (1984) perceptual-motor theory of emotion, is posited to account for the parameters of emotional processing in PTSD, and specific hypotheses concerning selective or differential emotional processing deficits in PTSD are described in order to clarify empirical issues about the development and maintenance of emotional processing deficits in PTSD and to stimulate future research in this underexplored, yet clinically important area.
This commentary raises conceptual issues related to recent efforts to develop measures of subjective well-being (SWB). Specifically, Hills’ and Argyle's (2002) article on the development of the 29-item Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), and its predecessor, the 20-item Oxford Happiness Inventory (Argyle, Martin & Crossland, 1989). Instead of assessing the structure of subjective well-being (SWB), items of the OHQ tap into self-esteem, sense of purpose, social interest and kindness, sense of humor, and aesthetic appreciation. The item content of the OHQ fails to differentiate the assessment of SWB from the predictors, correlates, and consequences of SWB. In contrast to published SWB findings with other measures, data are presented suggesting that the OHQ has artificially inflated correlations with those constructs tapped by the OHQ: self-esteem, sense of purpose, and social interest/extraversion. The operationalization of SWB by the OHQ is not based on relevant definition and theory and appears to invite nonrandom error into the study of SWB. The article concludes with an appeal for the use of more stringent conceptual and analytic approaches.
Self-determination theory (SDT) maintains that an understanding of human motivation requires a consideration of innate psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. We discuss the SDT concept of needs as it relates to previous need theories, emphasizing that needs specify the necessary conditions for psychological growth, integrity, and well-being. This concept of needs leads to the hypotheses that different regulatory processes underlying goal pursuits are differentially associated with effective functioning and well-being and also that different goal contents have different relations to the quality of behavior and mental health, specifically because different regulatory processes and different goal contents are associated with differing degrees of need satisfaction. Social contexts and individual differences that support satisfaction of the basic needs facilitate natural growth processes including intrinsically motivated behavior and integration of extrinsic motivations, whereas those that forestall autonomy, competence, or relatedness are associated with poorer motivation, performance, and well-being. We also discuss the relation of the psychological needs to cultural values, evolutionary processes, and other contemporary motivation theories.
There are few topics so fascinating both to the research investigator and the research subject as the self-image. It is distinctively characteristic of the human animal that he is able to stand outside himself and to describe, judge, and evaluate the person he is. He is at once the observer and the observed, the judge and the judged, the evaluator and the evaluated. Since the self is probably the most important thing in the world to him, the question of what he is like and how he feels about himself engrosses him deeply. This is especially true during the adolescent stage of development.
The broaden‐and‐build theory (Fredrickson, 199819.
Fredrickson , BL . (1998). What good are positive emotions?. Review of General Psychology, 2: 300–319. [CrossRef], [PubMed]View all references, 200121.
Fredrickson , BL . (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden‐and‐build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56: 218–226. [CrossRef], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [CSA]View all references) hypothesises that positive emotions broaden the scope of attention and thought‐action repertoires. Two experiments with 104 college students tested these hypotheses. In each, participants viewed a film that elicited (a) amusement, (b) contentment, (c) neutrality, (d) anger, or (e) anxiety. Scope of attention was assessed using a global‐local visual processing task (Experiment 1) and thought‐action repertoires were assessed using a Twenty Statements Test (Experiment 2). Compared to a neutral state, positive emotions broadened the scope of attention in Experiment 1 and thought‐action repertoires in Experiment 2. In Experiment 2, negative emotions, relative to a neutral state, narrowed thought‐action repertoires. Implications for promoting emotional well‐being and physical health are discussed.
Two studies tested the hypothesis that certain positive emotions speed recovery from the cardiovascular sequelae of negative emotions. In Study 1, 60 subjects (Ss) viewed an initial fear-eliciting film, and were randomly assigned to view a secondary film that elicited: (a) contentment; (b) amusement; (c) neutrality; or (d) sadness. Compared to Ss who viewed the neutral and sad secondary films, those who viewed the positive films exhibited more rapid returns to pre-film levels of cardiovascular activation. In Study 2, 72 Ss viewed a film known to elicit sadness. Fifty Ss spontaneously smiled at least once while viewing this film. Compared to Ss who did not smile, those who smiled exhibited more rapid returns to pre-film levels of cardiovascular activation. We discuss these findings in terms of emotion theory and possible health-promoting functions of positive emotions.