Psychological Wellbeing

While there is some degree of difficulty in accurately defining the terms “gratitude” and “psychological wellbeing”, the research available to assess the relationship between the two is widely available and consistent. A review of some such studies reveals self-reporting measures as a preferred experimental method when assessing this relationship. The studies assessed here, all find a causal link between gratitude and psychological wellbeing.
Yet to be determined, is the direction of the causal link. Does being more gratuitous lead to greater overall psychological wellbeing? Or is an initial state of positive psychological wellbeing a precursor to greater feelings of gratitude?
A self-assessment and intervention plan conducted to identify
The methodology and results of this study are included in this review and show that through daily recognition and recording of individual positive experiences, that the measured levels of gratitude also increased, which lead to reported greater psychological wellbeing overall. This literature review will also examine previously published clinical research and empirical data that explores the link between gratitude and psychological wellbeing. The relationship between gratitude and psychological wellbeing is pertinent to the field of Positive Psychology as it presents a conscious avenue to recognise and practise positive emotion and feelings of contentedness (Froh, Bono & Emmons, 2010).
Psychological wellbeing, in accordance with this literature review can be defined in accordance with The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index as the stable state of being well, feeling satisfied and contented (Cummins, Eckersley, Pallant, Vugt & Misajon,
Having experienced increased feelings of happiness and contentment during the self-assessment and intervention process, together with the greater overall feelings of psychological wellbeing forming a habitual conscious recollection of gratitude inspiring events at reoccurring weekly intervals, a consequence of the assessment. Further research and long term studies would be encouraged to provide stronger empirical evidence of the relationship between psychological wellbeing and gratitude and perhaps research into longer term gratitude interventions and there outcomes.
Gratitude has a positive relationship with psychological wellbeing. The research focusing on different aspects of gratitude and the feelings broadly associated with the concept are all relative to overall psychological wellbeing despite the general criticisms of self- reporting measures. A combination of research into the cognitive and biological effects of gratitude on the brain in cohesion with long term studies and self-reporting measures should enhance confidence in this