Research Paper A pilot randomised controlled trial comparing two positive psychology interventions for their capacity to increase subjective wellbeing

Abstract

ObjectivesUK participants (29 female, 26 male) took part in a single blind randomised controlled trial to test whether concentrating on gratitude increased self-reported measures of wellbeing more than concentrating on happiness.MethodParticipants in the two intervention groups were guided by an instructional video and asked to list three items a day in a customised to this study note-pad for a period of 12 consecutive days. They completed a battery of wellbeing measures before and after the intervention. A third group, the control group, completed only the battery of wellbeing measures at pre and post intervals.FindingsA trend of reduced psychological distress was reported between the treatment and control groups. No significant advantage between concentrating on happiness or gratitude was found.

Appreciating social science research on gratitude: An integrative review for organizational scholarship on gratitude in the workplace

“…Studies have found that gratitude interventions increase affective well‐being, positive discrete emotions, and a positive outlook. Affective outcomes include diffuse positive mood (Harbaugh & Vasey, 2014; Hatori et al, 2018; Titova et al, 2017), such as positive affect (Al‐Seheel & Noor, 2016; Chan, 2010; Emmons & McCullough, 2003; Işık & Ergüner‐Tekinalp, 2017; Manthey et al, 2016; Witvliet et al, 2019), positive affective well‐being (Kaplan et al, 2014), subjective well‐being (Lyubomirsky et al, 2011; Maiolino & Kuiper, 2016; Miller & Duncan, 2015; Neumeier et al, 2017), work‐specific well‐being (Neumeier et al, 2017), hedonic well‐being (Jackowska et al, 2016), and flourishing (Killen & Macaskill, 2015). Gratitude interventions also hinder negative affect (Al‐Seheel & Noor, 2016; Chan, 2013; Hatori et al, 2018).…”