Work

The impact of a brief gratitude intervention on subjective well-being, biology and sleep

Year: 2015

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: This randomised controlled experiment tested whether a brief subjective well-being intervention would have favourable effects on cardiovascular and neuroendocrine function and on sleep. We compared 2 weeks of a gratitude intervention with an active control (everyday events reporting) and no treatment conditions in 119 young women. The treatment elicited increases in hedonic well-being, optimism and sleep quality along with decreases in diastolic blood pressure. Improvements in subjective well-being were correlated with increased sleep quality and reductions in blood pressure, but there were no relationships with cortisol. This brief intervention suggests that subjective well-being may contribute towards lower morbidity and mortality through healthier biological function and restorative health behaviours.

Source: Journal of Health Psychology

DOI: 10.1177/1359105315572455

Authors: Marta Jackowska, Jennie Brown, Amy Ronaldson, Andrew Steptoe

Institutions: University College London, University of Roehampton

Language: English

Topic: Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: British Heart Foundation, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council