[00:00:00] What strengthens relationships Psychologists know that expressing gratitude improves one's own and others positive feelings, but researchers asked whether the means of gratitude expression made a difference. Do the effects of gratitude change when it's shared one on one with a benefactor or shared on social media? Researchers randomly assigned 1100 undergraduate students to one of four conditions to write gratitude letters without sharing, share gratitude one on one via text, share gratitude publicly on social media, or track their own daily activities. Participants completed assigned activities four times over one week.
[00:00:32] Participants expressing gratitude showed improvements in state of gratitude, emotions, connectedness, support, and decreased loneliness. The largest increase in social connectedness and support was when participants texted their benefactor. These findings demonstrate how simple efforts to show gratitude by digital means can enhance college students well being. Overall, there are benefits of expressing gratitude like making others feel happier, self satisfied with their lives and more socially connected and less lonely. Everyone reach out, give thanks, make a kind gesture and show your friends and family how much you feel thankful. Express your appreciation for others and what you share together in your life, even simply for their actions with the text.
