Evaluating the effects of gratitude interventions on college student well-being

doi:10.1080/07448481.2022.2076096

Paper

Evaluating the effects of gratitude interventions on college student well-being

Published May 27, 2022 · Katherine Tolcher, Madalyn Cauble, Andrew Downs

Journal of American College Health

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11

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0

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Abstract

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effects of three different gratitude interventions on college student well-being. Participants: Participants were 132 college students at a university in the northwest sampled between September 2019 and February 2020. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to one of three gratitude interventions (journaling, reflection, app prompted reflection) or an activity-matched control group for 8 weeks and completed baseline and post-intervention assessments of well-being (e.g., satisfaction with life, happiness, resilience, depression, anxiety, and stress). Results: Participants in all three gratitude intervention groups showed improvements in well-being over time, whereas the control group did not report any such improvements. Gratitude journaling appeared to have the most significant positive impact on well-being and affective functioning. Conclusions: Gratitude interventions are simple, easy to implement, low-cost tools that can increase overall well-being and decrease negative affect, stress, and anxiety in college students.

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Study Snapshot

Gratitude interventions, particularly gratitude journaling, can improve overall well-being and decrease negative emotions, stress, and anxiety in college students.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

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Citations

The role of prosocial tendencies in the relationships between gratitude, perceived social support, and psychological well-being among Chinese university students: a structural equation modeling approach

Gratitude and perceived social support positively influence psychological well-being in Chinese university students, with prosocial tendencies partially mediating these relationships.

The association between perceived student gratitude and teacher family role performance: A moderated mediation model.

Perceived student gratitude positively impacts teachers' family role performance, with work-family enrichment acting as a mediator and intrinsic motivation playing a moderating role.

Psychological Capital and Gratitude as Correlate to Mental Health among Undergraduate College Students: A Literature Review

Psychological Capital and gratitude positively impact mental health in college students and workers, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address mental health disparities.

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Gratitude practice, integrated into daily life, can enhance health and human functioning throughout the lifespan, providing accessible reinforcement towards optimal health and wellbeing.

Using Self-Determination Theory to Examine Student Responses to Five-Minute Self-Regulation Strategies in the Engineering Classroom

Five-minute self-regulation interventions in engineering classrooms positively promote students' basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

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