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Exploring the social component in reports on gratitude exercises

Jung, Hannah (2018) Exploring the social component in reports on gratitude exercises.

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Abstract:Gratitude exercises are found to enhance well-being and seem to contain a social component which may be conceptualised as prosociality. This study investigated areas of life gratitude can be directed at and subjectively perceived influences of gratitude exercises. Additionally, it explored a social component within gratitude exercises by investigating prosocial remarks in reflections on gratitude exercises. The relationships between well-being, gratitude and prosociality were studied as well. A content analysis was conducted on reflections on weekly gratitude exercises and gratitude lists of 32 participants from the general Dutch population. Additionally, a correlational analysis was executed on the gratitude reports and measures of well-being and prosociality. Participants directed their gratitude most frequently at interpersonal areas of life, while also indicating gratitude for non-social areas. They mainly ascribed positive intrapersonal changes to the gratitude exercises. Prosocial remarks were reported, but to a relatively low report rate. Whereas prosociality did not increase during the intervention, increased well-being was related to reports on general mindfulness. This study highlights the special potential of interpersonal relations to create grateful experiences and suggests that future research continues to explore the role of prosociality as social component within gratitude exercises. Limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/76728
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