Psychosocial Benefits of Gratitude Journals

University of Limerick

Status: Completed

Conditions: Happiness

Treatments: Behavioral: Neutral Control Journal; Behavioral: Reflective Interpersonal Gratitude; Behavioral: Reflective-Behavioral Gratitude

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02570685

GratitudeJournal2015

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled study will examine the effects of different interpersonal gratitude journals compared to a neutral control journal on psycho social outcomes.

Full description

This randomized controlled study will examine the effect of a) a reflective interpersonal gratitude journal, and b) an reflective and behavioral interpersonal gratitude journal, versus (c) an active control journal, on life satisfaction and other secondary outcomes. Explanatory mechanisms will be tested utilizing the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of these three conditions with three week, one month and three month follow-up assessments.

Enrollment: 192 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• English language proficiency

Exclusion criteria

• under the age of 18

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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192 participants in 3 patient groups

Reflective Interpersonal Gratitude

Experimental group

Description:

An interpersonal gratitude journal, designed to foster gratitude for one's existing social relationships, by writing and reflecting on people and positive daily encounters for which one is grateful.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Reflective Interpersonal Gratitude

Reflective-Behavioral Gratitude

Experimental group

Description:

An interpersonal gratitude journal, designed to foster gratitude for one's existing social relationships, by writing and reflecting on people and positive daily encounters for which one is grateful. In addition participants are asked to choose a friend express this gratitude to them at the end of each week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Reflective-Behavioral Gratitude

Neutral Control Journal

Active Comparator group

Description:

Write about and reflect on things that occurred over the course of the day.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Neutral Control Journal