It's the time of year where we are asked to take a moment to give thanks through feasting. It's an ancient ritual that has been passed down to us, but is there something to this other than eating turkey and passing out in front of the T.V., is this simply a leftover ritual that has no value to us? Rather than describe our opinion on the importance of gratefulness, we want to look at research and data (you knew this had to come into it soon) that could compel us to be grateful through our own self-interest. In other words, what changes do we see in individuals who are thankful? How does gratitude benefit us?
Research over the last three years spanning several disciplines have indicated that there can be positive affects on our ability to cope with stress, to have enduring, restful sleep, to overcome trauma, and to assist donor recipients recovering from surgery. Using the Big Five Factor Model of psychology, a researcher in the U.K. found that gratitude has "medium to large correlations with environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, and self-acceptance." He concluded that gratitude is, "...uniquely important to psychological well-being, beyond the effect of the Big Five facets." The same researcher found correlative evidence to suggest that individuals sleep duration and quality are positively affected by feeling gratitude during one's presleep cycle. Also, the field of organ donation may be reevaluating the living donor-recipient relationship based on the recipient's stronger recovery after being able to show gratitude to their donor. Other research has shown that simply saying or writing, "Thank you" can motivate other behaviors such as giving bigger tips, or increasing purchases. To sum up, if you take time in your life to be gracious, you could be fortifying your personality to withstand negative effects, and support positive behaviors in ourselves and others.
With this new understanding, we are grateful for the following: all those organizations and individuals who have supported CCNY's growth during its young history; the vendor organizations and workers who serve to support families in our community; and to the individual and organizations who have partnered with us to develop quality training, evaluation, and Q.I. products. We hope that all of you take the opportunity to give thanks, if for no other reason than having your after-turkey sleep will be more restful. ;-)
Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone.
References
Carey, J. R., Clicque, S. H., Leighton, B. A., & Milton, F. (1976). A test of positive reinforcement of customers. Journal of Marketing, 40, 98-100.
Kashdan, T., Uswatte, G., & Julian, T. (2006). Gratitude and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in Vietnam war veterans. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 44(2), 177-199. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2005.01.005.
Papachristou, C., Walter, M., Schmid, G., Frommer, J., & Klapp, B. (2009). Living donor liver transplantation and its effect on the donor–recipient relationship – a qualitative interview study with donors. Clinical Transplantation, 23(3), 382-391. doi:10.1111/j.1399-0012.2008.00948.x.
Rind, B., & Bordia, P. (1995). Effect of server's "Thank you" and personalization on restaurant tipping. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 25, 745-751
Vernon, L., Dillon, J., & Steiner, A. (2009). Proactive coping, gratitude, and posttraumatic stress disorder in college women. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 22(1), 117-127. doi:10.1080/10615800802203751.
Wood, A., Joseph, S., Lloyd, J., & Atkins, S. (2009). Gratitude influences sleep through the mechanism of pre-sleep cognitions. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 66(1), 43-48. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.09.002.
Wood, A., Joseph, S., & Maltby, J. (2009). Gratitude predicts psychological well-being above the Big Five facets. Personality & Individual Differences, 46(4), 443-447. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2008.11.012.
