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Buenconsejo JU, Fincham FD, Datu JAD. The perks of being grateful to partners: Expressing gratitude in relationships predicts relational self-efficacy and life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2023; 15:1472-1489. [PMID: 37195635 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Being grateful to one's partner matters for a diverse range of interpersonal and individual well-being outcomes. However, there is little investigation on the psychological benefits of expressing gratitude to partners during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Using a short-term longitudinal design, this study of undergraduate students (Mage = 20.31; SDage = 1.81; n = 268) in the United States explores the link between expressing gratitude in romantic relationships, subsequent relationship self-efficacy, life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and the COVID-19 anxiety. Results demonstrated that expressing gratitude in relationships positively predicted subsequent relationship self-efficacy and life satisfaction even after controlling for age, gender, ethnic background, trait gratitude, and auto-regressor effects. These findings show that relational gratitude had incremental validity in predicting relational self-efficacy and subjective well-being above and beyond the effects of demographic factors and dispositional gratitude. This research emphasizes the psychological payoffs of cultivating gratitude in relational contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jet U Buenconsejo
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Frank D Fincham
- FSU Family Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Jesus Alfonso D Datu
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Han A, Seo HJ, Lee YJ, Kim J, Choi H, Kim YS, Park SH. Exploring the Relationships Among (COVID)-19 Stress, Leisure Constraints, and Happiness for Adults During the (COVID)-19 Pandemic in Korea. Am J Health Behav 2023; 47:558-566. [PMID: 37596756 DOI: 10.5993/ajhb.47.3.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: The emergence of COVID-19 and its consequences has led to fears, worries, discomfort, depression, and anxiety for human beings worldwide. In this study, we examined the relationships among COVID-19 stress, leisure constraints, and happiness of Korean adults. Methods: We employed on-line convenience sampling to recruit participants. The sample consisted of Korean adults. A total of 600 surveys were distributed, we retained 293 responses for analysis. Results: COVID-19 stress subcomponents significantly impacted on individual happiness. Our findings align with research focusing on positive correlates between perceived COVID-19 stress and leisure constraints subcomponents. We also found that as COVID-19 stress decreased, perceived happiness increased. Conclusions: Future research is proposed to explore the mechanism of how leisure constraints influence the engagement of physical activities and strategies of leisure constraints negotiation to gain the benefits of happiness in the pandemic crisis. Managerial implications and future research are discussed from the perspectives of constraint negotiation and happiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Areum Han
- The Convergence Institute of Healthcare and Medical Science, Catholic Kwandong Universityy, In-Cheon, South Korea
| | - Hee-Jung Seo
- Department of Sport Science, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yun-Jung Lee
- Department of Sport Science, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Junhyoung Kim
- Department of Sport Science, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Heeyong Choi
- The Convergence Institute of Healthcare and Medical Science, Catholic Kwandong Universityy, In-Cheon, South Korea
| | - Yu-Sik Kim
- Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Se-Hyuk Park
- Department of Sport Science, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, Seoul, South Korea
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Newman DB, Nezlek JB, Tay L. General Gratitude and Gratitude to God: Associations with Personality and Well-Being. THE JOURNAL OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 19:157-165. [PMID: 38487080 PMCID: PMC10936696 DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2023.2178958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of research has focused on distinguishing general forms of gratitude from gratitude to God. We contributed to this area of research by examining correlates of personality traits and meaning in life in a cross-sectional study (N = 1,398). General gratitude was more strongly positively related to honesty-humility, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness, and meaning in life than gratitude to God. Moreover, gratitude to God moderated the positive relationship between general gratitude and meaning in life such that the relationship was stronger at lower than higher levels of gratitude to God. The results suggest that general forms of gratitude may be more important for well-being and positive traits than gratitude to God. General forms of gratitude may be particularly beneficial among less religious people, while gratitude to God may be particularly beneficial for people's well-being among those who are less grateful in general.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John B Nezlek
- William and Mary
- University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw
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Meyer HH, Stutts LA. The impact of single-session gratitude interventions on stress and affect. THE JOURNAL OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2023.2170823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi H. Meyer
- Public Health, Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina, USA
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Burzynska-Tatjewska B, Stolarski M. Leaving Past Adversities Behind: Gratitude Intervention Compensates for the Undesirable Effects of Past Time Perspectives on Negative Affect. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12964. [PMID: 36232264 PMCID: PMC9566245 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Both gratitude and savoring the moment are considered to be well-established "well-being boosters" (WBBs). Each of them has a salient temporal reference: Gratitude is past-related, whereas savoring the moment refers to the present. The temporal match-mismatch model posits that time perspectives (TPs) moderate the effects of WBBs on well-being if they refer to the same temporal frame (e.g., gratitude and Past-Positive). Our study tested whether TPs moderate the effects of two positive interventions on positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). The participants (N = 174 individuals, 73% women) completed measures of TPs, PA, and NA, followed by a brief intervention of gratitude (N = 86) or savoring (N = 88). Subsequently, they completed the PA/NA measures again. Both interventions significantly decreased NA but did not foster PA. The magnitude of the shift in NA in the gratitude condition depended on the levels of past TPs: Individuals high in Past-Negative and low in Past-Positive displayed greater baseline NA than their counterparts; however, the difference was leveled after the gratitude intervention. No interaction effects between the present TPs and the savoring intervention were observed. The results suggest that practicing gratitude may diminish the undesirable consequences of negative views of the past.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maciej Stolarski
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, 00-183 Warsaw, Poland
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Sekaja L, Tully CA, Mahlangu S, de Freitas K, Tyelbooi LN, Mjojeli BPL, Mokhethi ME, Mabitsela T. Thankful employees: The manifestation of gratitude at work during a pandemic in South Africa. Front Psychol 2022; 13:941787. [PMID: 35936248 PMCID: PMC9353733 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.941787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gratitude or the appreciation of being given something of value, is an important element in positive emotions within positive psychology. Gratitude has been linked to wellbeing and gratitude in the workplace is positively associated with constructs such as performance and organizational citizenship behavior. The pandemic brought on many negative experiences but employees could still find things to be grateful for during this time. The purpose of the study was to understand what aspects of work and the organization employees were grateful for during the pandemic. A generic qualitative approach was used. Participants were sourced from various industries in South Africa using purposive sampling. Data were gathered through 21 semi-structured interviews of working people in South Africa. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis revealed five themes, namely, (1) gratitude for no negative work-life changes; (2) gratitude for a caring workplace; (3) gratitude for a new way of working; (4) gratitude for the ability to put oneself first; and (5) gratitude for having resilience, optimism and spirituality as a psychological buffer. Managers should deliberately engage in behaviors that will bring about gratitude from their employees. Employees should reflect on the positive things at work that they are thankful for as a way of enhancing gratitude and thereby, wellness, performance, and commitment. The study combines existing knowledge on gratitude during the pandemic with gratitude in the workplace.
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Kumar SA, Edwards ME, Grandgenett HM, Scherer LL, DiLillo D, Jaffe AE. Does Gratitude Promote Resilience During a Pandemic? An Examination of Mental Health and Positivity at the Onset of COVID-19. JOURNAL OF HAPPINESS STUDIES 2022; 23:3463-3483. [PMID: 35855779 PMCID: PMC9281297 DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00554-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Researchers have emphasized the detrimental effects of COVID-19 on mental health, but less attention has been given to personal strengths promoting resilience during the pandemic. One strength might be gratitude, which supports wellbeing amidst adversity. A two-wave examination of 201 college students revealed anxiety symptom severity increased to a lesser extent from pre-COVID (January-March 2020) to onset-COVID (April 2020) among those who reported greater pre-COVID gratitude. A similar trend appeared for depression symptom severity. Gratitude was also correlated with less negative changes in outlook, greater positive changes in outlook, and endorsement of positive experiences resulting from COVID-19. Thematic analysis showed "strengthened interpersonal connections" and "more time" were the most commonly reported positive experiences. Overall findings suggest gratitude lessened mental health difficulties and fostered positivity at the onset of the pandemic, but more research is needed to determine whether gratitude and other strengths promote resilience as COVID-19 continues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaina A. Kumar
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE USA
| | - Madison E. Edwards
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE USA
| | | | - Lisa L. Scherer
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE USA
| | - David DiLillo
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE USA
| | - Anna E. Jaffe
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE USA
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