Take Nothing for Granted: Downward Social Comparison and Counterfactual Thinking Increase Adolescents’ State Gratitude for the Little Things in Life

Nicuță, Elena Gabriela; Constantin, Ticu

doi:10.1007/s10902-021-00382-5

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 87 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Practical applications of these findings involve the need to raise awareness about the healthy use of social media, about the effects of social comparisons on mood and behaviors, and about the benefits of managing feelings by changing the point of reference of comparison or focusing on being grateful (Nicuță and Constantin 2021). With that purpose, social media literacy interventions in schools and interventions in the clinical setting may be beneficial for adolescents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescents’ Social Comparisons, Subjective Social Status, and Coping to Maintain Well-Being: A Qualitative Study

Vidal

Wissow

2023

Journal of Applied Social Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Income inequality has increased in the United States over the past decades and, more recently, social media has expanded adolescents’ reference groups and their field of social comparison. These parallel societal changes may influence adolescents’ social identity development and affect their well-being. We interviewed adolescents in contact with health services to understand their experiences with social status differences and social comparisons. In this sample of adolescents, social comparisons varied, based on context and individual characteristics, and were associated with a range of feelings and coping mechanisms. We highlight the implications of the findings in the context of changing societal dynamics.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescents’ Social Comparisons, Subjective Social Status, and Coping to Maintain Well-Being: A Qualitative Study

Vidal

Wissow

2023

Journal of Applied Social Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In addition, this measure has allowed us to differentiate the counterfactual upward and downward processes, which have also been related to the affects in the direction found in previous literature. In other words, the counterfactual upward process seems to lead to greater negative symptomatology ( Broomhall et al, 2017 ) and the counterfactual downward process to greater wellbeing (e.g., Nicuța and Constantine, 2021 ). However, this variable did not allow us to find differences in the trait of gratitude suggesting that having high or low levels of gratitude is independent of comparative thinking (where participants indicate that they were worse or, conversely, that they were equal or better).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An upward counterfactual is generated when people imagine better alternative states as opposed to a downward counterfactual which is when they imagine worse alternative states ( Broomhall et al, 2017 ). Thus, studies have been found that link gratitude with counterfactual thinking (e.g., McNamara et al, 2003 ; Nicuța and Constantine, 2021 ). For example, Teigen (1997) required participants to tell a story of their own regarding two situations in which they had felt grateful and then asked them whether they had thought about what might have happened instead (i.e., whether they had engaged in counterfactual thinking), finding a strong relationship between gratitude and counterfactual thinking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Teigen (1997) required participants to tell a story of their own regarding two situations in which they had felt grateful and then asked them whether they had thought about what might have happened instead (i.e., whether they had engaged in counterfactual thinking), finding a strong relationship between gratitude and counterfactual thinking. In another study with adolescents, it was found that after engaging in downward comparative thinking, participants reported more gratitude, and levels of negative emotion were decreased ( Nicuța and Constantine, 2021 ). A meta-analysis examined the strength of association between upward counterfactual thinking and depressive symptoms and found that upward counterfactuals and regret produced statistically significant positive effects that were similar in strength and effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Moderation Effects of Comparative Thinking Between Gratitude and Negative Affect During the COVID-19 Outbreak

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of this research was to examine the moderation effects of comparative thinking (CT) across the relationship between gratitude and affect during the COVID-19 outbreak. To this purpose, multiple regression as well as moderation analyses were carried out. Age and sex were also addressed as variables of interest as described in previous literature. A sample of 306 north Americans was recruited by crowdsourcing platform ProA to obtain a representative sample based on age and gender. The participants filled in a questionnaire based on comparative thinking in relation to the emotional experience experienced before and during the COVID-19 outbreak, positive and negative affect schedule for positive and negative affect, as well as Gratitude Questionnaire - Six Items Form scores for gratitude. The main results of the current study related to the COVID-19 outbreak can be listed as follows: (i) no differences between CT groups in the gratitude trait, but differences in positive and negative affect did occur; (ii) regression models that included age, gratitude, and affect variables predicted negative and positive affects but gender did not reach the statistical level; (iii) two moderation models predicted affect from gratitude, with the CT variable moderating this effect; this moderation effect was also statistically significant in predicting negative affect but it was not statistically significant in predicting positive affect. These results might be of interest for training programs in applied levels and theoretical models of gratitude.

show abstract

“…Self/social comparisons can influence a person’s affective thinking. Nicuță and Constantin (2021) proposed that downward comparative thinking can elevate gratitude when people appreciate their situation more once they compare themselves with others who are in less advantageous positions.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring intergenerational differences in the virtue of appreciation at the workplace

Garg

Mahipalan

2022

SRJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose The present study aims to explore the intergenerational differences in the virtue of appreciation. The construct of appreciation takes a broadened perspective with six dimensions of “have” focus, awe, ritual, present moment, loss/adversity and interpersonal appreciation. Four different generations are studied – baby boomers (above 55 years), pre-millennial or Generation X (41–55 years), millennial or Generation Y (23–39 years) and post-millennial or Generation Z (below 23 years). Design/methodology/approach The collected data is analyzed in two stages. First, the adaptability of the scale is examined using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability and validity estimates. And in the second stage, the variations in appreciation scores are explored using ANOVA and post hoc analysis. Findings The results reveal statistically significant intergenerational differences among four subscales of appreciation, i.e. “have” focus, awe, present moment and loss/adversity. Only one subscale of appreciation, i.e. ritual, does not vary significantly across respondents of different generations. Also, younger generations have lesser scores on subscales of appreciation than older generations. Thus, it seems that older generations are generally more appreciative than younger generations. Originality/value The present study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, could be the first research that examines the variation among generations for the experience of broader construct of appreciation within the Indian context.

show abstract

Take Nothing for Granted: Downward Social Comparison and Counterfactual Thinking Increase Adolescents’ State Gratitude for the Little Things in Life

Cited by 9 publications

References 87 publications

Adolescents’ Social Comparisons, Subjective Social Status, and Coping to Maintain Well-Being: A Qualitative Study

Adolescents’ Social Comparisons, Subjective Social Status, and Coping to Maintain Well-Being: A Qualitative Study

The Moderation Effects of Comparative Thinking Between Gratitude and Negative Affect During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Exploring intergenerational differences in the virtue of appreciation at the workplace

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About