Gender Differences in Gratitude: Examining Appraisals, Narratives, the Willingness to Express Emotions, and Changes in Psychological Needs

Abstract

Previous work suggests women might possess an advantage over men in experiencing and benefiting from gratitude. We examined whether women perceive and react to gratitude differently than men. In Study 1, women, compared with men, evaluated gratitude expression to be less complex, uncertain, conflicting, and more interesting and exciting. In Study 2, college students and older adults described and evaluated a recent episode when they received a gift. Women, compared with men, reported less burden and obligation and greater gratitude. Upon gift receipt, older men reported the least positive affect when their benefactors were men. In Studies 2 and 3, women endorsed higher trait gratitude compared with men. In Study 3, over 3 months, women with greater gratitude were more likely to satisfy needs to belong and feel autonomous; gratitude had the opposite effect in men. The willingness to openly express emotions partially mediated gender differences, and effects could not be attributed to global trait affect. Results demonstrated that men were less likely to feel and express gratitude, made more critical evaluations of gratitude, and derived fewer benefits. Implications for the study and therapeutic enhancement of gratitude are discussed.

Gender, Grade and Personality Differences in Internet Addiction and Positive Psychological Health among Chinese College Students

“…In terms of psychological health, female students scored higher in positive emotion, relationship and over all wellbeing than male students. This is consistent with previous studies that women in general are more willing to express and share positive emotions than men as well as more attuned to create and sustain meaningful social relationships [43].…”

Can Health Status and Self-Esteem Predict Gratitude in Adult Females?

“…Gender differences for gratitude Kashdan et al, 2009) and self-esteem (Josephs et al, 1992) may reveal different associations between variables. Specifically, a link between self-esteem and gratitude may not be as pronounced in a male population, due to a higher prevalence of low self-esteem in women (Major et al, 1999).…”

“…Regarding emotional awareness, research indicates that women tend to be more attuned to their inner thoughts and open with their feelings when compared to men (Ciarrochi et al, 2005;Kashdan et al, 2009). It is expected that these gender differences are a reflection of different experiences of gratitude between genders .…”

Introduction and psychometric properties of the Hungarian version of the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6-H)

“…Ugyanitt a szerzõk beszámolnak arról is, hogy negatív korrelációt találtak a hála és a depresszió, a negatív érzések, az irigység, valamint az anyagiasság között. Sok hálával foglalkozó kutatás emellett arra az eredményre jutott, hogy a nõk -a férfiakkal összehasonlítva -hajlamosabbak a hála megtapasztalására és kifejezésére, valamint több hasznuk is származik belõle (Kashdan, Mishra, Breen, & Froh, 2009;Wood, Joseph, & Linley, 2007).…”