The impact of gratitude letters and visits on relationships, happiness, well-being, and meaning of graduate students

Abstract

In this mixed-methods research, we examined the practice of writing and delivering letters of gratitude (gratitude visits) and its impact on well-being, happiness, meaning and relationships for students in an online graduate program in psychology. Participants completed assessments and inventories relating to happiness, well-being and meaning in life, including the Satisfaction with Life Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Approaches to Happiness Questionnaire and open-ended qualitative questions before and after they wrote and delivered gratitude letters. Quantitative analyses found significant increases in meaning in life, satisfaction with life, and approaches to happiness after the gratitude visit intervention. Using a grounded theory qualitative analysis of the data, eight primary themes emerged related to the impact and meaning of gratitude letters on graduate students: (1) the impact on the relationship; (2) positive emotions experienced; (3) experiencing a reciprocal expression of gratitude from the receiver; (4) overcoming uncomfortable emotions; (5) relief, release or liberation after sharing; (6) impact on spiritual growth; (7) unexpected responses; and (8) greater reflection on the meaning of life and a changed perspective. Overall, providing graduate students with the opportunity to engage in gratitude visit interventions was related to greater meaning and well-being. This study suggests implications and recommendations related to the use of positive psychology interventions in educational settings.

Gratitude as a Positive Character Strenghts: How to Develop as an Adolescent With in Role of a School Counselor

“…Related to the gratitude aspect which is appreciation of simple pleasure and appreciation of others positively should be develop through three good things exercises, which aim to help youngsters remember at least three good occurrences that occur in their lives every day (Bahnik et al, 2015 ;Lai & Carroll, 2017a;Tagalidou et al, 2019) . While the ability to express gratitude for one's will and good intentions can be developed through a gratitude activity, which aims to help adolescents express gratitude by writing a letter of gratitude, the aspect of expressing gratitude related to the ability to express gratitude for one's will and good intentions can be developed through a gratitude visit activity (Christanto et al, 2017;Stefan et al, 2021) . So that school counselors can increase adolescent gratitude through specific training activities such as counting blessings, three good things, and gratitude visits.…”

“…The letter must be sent to the person who, in his opinion, has not had the opportunity to express his gratitude, and it must be delivered immediately (personal). This activity was in positive changes in the participants, including an increase in gratitude (Christanto et al, 2017;Proctor & Linley, 2013;Stefan et al, 2021;Toepfer et al, 2012) The guide service with positive psychological intervention is based on a number of technical activities that might be used. Three meetings for adolescent participants might be held by school counselors.…”

A Narrative Review of Peer-Led Positive Psychology Interventions: Current Evidence, Potential, and Future Directions

“…This can involve expressing gratitude to other people, as seen in studies of 'Gratitude Letters', where participants write their thanks to another person [23]. This exercise promotes increased positive effects, life satisfaction, meaning in life, and decreased negative emotions [24,25]. Other gratitude interventions are more self-reflective tasks, such as gratitude journaling, which leads to benefits such as improved physical health [26], meaning [27], engagement [27], life satisfaction, and positive affect [28].…”