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Gratitude and Well-being: Replication and Extension of the Benefits of a Gratitude Exercise and Investigation of Potential Moderators and Mediators

Harbaugh, Casaundra N.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1399316285

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
BACKGROUND: Research suggests that gratitude exercises may be effective for enhancing well-being. However, much about these exercises remains unknown. For example, more research is needed to establish for whom and under what conditions gratitude exercises are most effective as well as the mechanisms by which they operate. To address these issues, the present study investigated two potential moderators of a gratitude list exercise, trait gratitude and depressive symptoms; the role of conscious knowledge of the purpose of the exercise (i.e., a rationale); and personal resources and maladaptive cognitive behavioral patterns as potential mediators of the effect of the gratitude list exercise on indices of well-being. METHODS: Participants were 164 undergraduates (mean age 19.53, 69.6% female, 81.6% Caucasian) selected based on a prescreening measure of depressive symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions, each of which completed 14 days of list making. The control condition made a list each evening of events that occurred during the day; the Gratitude without Rationale and Gratitude + Rationale conditions made daily lists of things for which they felt grateful, but the Gratitude + Rationale condition received an explanation of the purpose of the exercise whereas the Gratitude without Rationale condition did not. Baseline and follow-up measures were collected before and after the 14 days of list making, respectively. RESULTS: The gratitude exercise was associated with increased happiness and decreased depressive symptoms among participants low in baseline trait gratitude. Similarly, the exercise was associated with decreased depressive symptoms amongst participants with very high baseline symptoms. Further examination of these results revealed that the gratitude exercise also impacted the relations between the moderators at baseline and later happiness and depressive symptoms. There was some evidence that including the rationale may have boosted the effect of the exercise on happiness for individuals low in trait gratitude, but this difference only approached significance. Contrary to expectation, the gratitude exercise did not impact positive or negative emotions and none of the personal resources or maladaptive cognitive and behavioral patterns significantly mediated the relation between the gratitude exercise and happiness or depressive symptoms, regardless of baseline level of trait gratitude or depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that gratitude exercises may be most effective for individuals low in trait gratitude or high in depressive symptoms. In addition to highlighting the importance of considering moderators of gratitude exercises, these findings help explain previous inconsistencies in the literature. The present study also supports the hypothesis that gratitude exercises may be useful for reducing depressive symptoms, though more research is needed to allow firm conclusions. Similarly, there was some suggestive evidence that including a rationale may enhance the effect of gratitude exercises on happiness, but more research in samples where more robust effects are found is needed. Given that the exercise did not impact positive or negative emotions and that there was no evidence of mediation, the mechanisms by which the gratitude exercise had its effect remain unclear. Future research directions are discussed.
Michael Vasey, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Jennifer Cheavens, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Julian Thayer, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
110 p.
Psychology
Gratitude; depression; well-being; moderators; gratitude exercises

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Harbaugh, C. N. (2014). Gratitude and Well-being: Replication and Extension of the Benefits of a Gratitude Exercise and Investigation of Potential Moderators and Mediators [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1399316285

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Harbaugh, Casaundra. Gratitude and Well-being: Replication and Extension of the Benefits of a Gratitude Exercise and Investigation of Potential Moderators and Mediators . 2014. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1399316285.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Harbaugh, Casaundra. "Gratitude and Well-being: Replication and Extension of the Benefits of a Gratitude Exercise and Investigation of Potential Moderators and Mediators ." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1399316285

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.