Conference paper
GRATITUDE, RELIGIOUSNESS AND WELL-BEING
Andrea Ferenczi
orcid.org/0000-0002-5063-0444
; Institute of Psychology, Department of Personality and Health Psychology, Karoli Gaspa University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
Zsuzsanna Tanyi
; Institute of Psychology, Department of Personality and Health Psychology, Karoli Gaspa University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
Zsuzsanna Mirnics
; Institute of Psychology, Department of Personality and Health Psychology, Karoli Gaspa University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
Dora Kovacs
; Institute of Psychology, Department of General Psychology, Karoli Gaspar , University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
Veronika Meszaros
; Institute of Psychology, Department of General Psychology, Karoli Gaspar , University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
Andrea Hubner
; Institute of Social Studies, Budapest Business School, University of Applied Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
Abstract
Background: Previous researches have identified the positive effects of gratitude on happiness and well-being. It has been found
that spirituality can enhance gratitude and well-being. Our study aimed to examine the link between gratitude and subjective wellbeing
among religious and non-religious people. Furthermore we tested if a 4-week long gratitude diary has a positive effect on
subjective well-being.
Subjects and methods: In our online, qualitative investigation the sample consisted of 54 males and 169 females (mean
age = 39.13, SD=15.90). 54.1% of respondents rel24.8igious on my
own waynd 21.2% as -experimental group (leading a gratitude diary for 4 weeks) with 103 individuals and a
control group with 120 individuals with no differences in age, gender and religiousness. We compared the questionna
(filled out both before and after the intervention) of the experimental group (n=103) with the results of the control group (n=120)
similarly filled out on two different occasions. We applied Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Test and Subjective Well-being Scale.
Results: Our results showed that religious people showed elevated level of gratitude (F(2, 219)=23.66, p<0.001) but same wellbeing
(F(2, 219)=1.97, p=0.142) compared to non-religious groups. In the experiment group the gratitude and the subjective wellbeing
both increased (p<0.01), and there was no significant changes in control group. 2x2 ANOVA showed significant interaction
effect (Subjective well-being: (F(1, 221)=13.32, p<0.001); Gratitude: F(1, 221)=12.43, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Religiousness is linked to higher gratitude and an increase in gratitude can result in an increase in subjective wellbeing.
The importance of gratitude diary both among religious and non-religious people will be discussed.
Keywords
religious; non-religious; gratitude; gratitude diary; subjective-well-being
Hrčak ID:
272229
URI
Publication date:
19.10.2021.
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