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Research shows that if you list at least three things you’re grateful for everyday, you will significantly improve your mental health. Does it really, or does

Research shows that if you list at least three things you’re grateful for everyday, you will significantly improve your mental health. Does it really, or does this line just sound good? If you're going to make a claim like this, you should probably link to peer-reviewed research that backs this up.

floverfelt 6y ago
As best as we know it does: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-...
- king_magic 6y ago
  That's great, exactly what I was looking for. OP should link to something like this.
  - crystalcamarao 6y ago
    Yes, that's a very good suggestion. Thanks for sharing!
- crystalcamarao 6y ago
  Thanks for sharing! Here's something I found to add to that: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313845439_%27The_Three_Good_Things%27_-_The_effects_of_gratitude_practice_on_wellbeing_A_randomised_controlled_trial https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313845439_%27The_Th...
- neonological 6y ago
  https://www.prevention.com/life/a20434535/how-being-selfish-makes-people-happier/ https://www.prevention.com/life/a20434535/how-being-selfish-...
  - crystalcamarao 6y ago
    Any particular reason you shared this? A bit confused how it’s relevant.
wunderflix 6y ago
I am a bit skeptic when it comes to these things. But, I have been doing a 1 min "prayer" every day while taking a shower in the morning. I remind myself how well I am off compared to many people and what a great family I have etc. It has really helped me to start the day with a calmer mind.
- crystalcamarao 6y ago
  Yes, I think it does help. Thanks for sharing!
gkilmain 6y ago
I hear what you're saying but ... have you tried it? Seems like a simple enough exercise. Heck, maybe I'll try it.
- BeetleB 6y ago
  I have, and I disagree. Maybe it's because my outlook is generally one of being grateful, so I may have already received the benefits without this exercise. In any case, I'd be wary of any claims like this unless someone tries it for at least 6 months. I expect initially one will get benefits but after N months it fizzles away.
  - gkilmain 6y ago
    I'm going to give it a go with the old pencil / paper. Hopefully, if it works and then fizzles away, it'll fizzle because i've gained the benefit. Six months tho - might be tough.
    - krrrh 6y ago
      I've tried it a few times when I've been in periods of relative depression, either with the paper 5 minute journal or with the app of the same name. The habit lasts for a week and then fades away as I start to get engaged in life gain. Maybe that would have happened without the journaling, but it's such a low cost exercise and it feels like it makes a difference.
      - crystalcamarao 6y ago
        Yes, it does feel that way for me too. Thanks for sharing!
    - crystalcamarao 6y ago
      Good luck and thanks for sharing!
  - crystalcamarao 6y ago
    Maybe it depends on a lot of factors. Thanks for sharing!
billfruit 6y ago
Even peer reviewed research won't make me believe claims like that. Experimental psychology seems a field plagued by replicability crisis, and frankly I think the field is just a self perpetuating paper mill for those in it, and a futile pursuit. Psychology in my view needs a theoritical approach. Did Freud, William James etc need to do experiments with 30 graduate students to study about the working of the mind, and behaviour of people?.
- b3kart 6y ago
  With no experimental validation my theory is as good as Freud’s theory for all intents and purposes. Maybe we should be thinking around improving experimental methodology instead? Then we can try to come up with complex theories and test them.
  - billfruit 6y ago
    Without resorting to experiments, theories can be valuable in themselves, their soundness of argument, their coherence, and them not leading to confounding and condtradictory predictions can guide us as to their validity. There is value in approaching problems analytically rather than resorting to empirical methods.
    - euthymiclabs 6y ago
      Modern psychology is heavily driven by both theory and empiric techniques. The theories themselves are rich and generally cohesive, but without empirical validation, they are essentially bare philosophy. Of course they aren't as water tight as the theories and observations of physics, but if you spend any time in the core psychological literature, you'll find a ton of theoretical work.
    - b3kart 6y ago
      Spotted a mathematician. ;-) > theories can be valuable in themselves Maybe they can be (in pure mathematics, or philosophy, as the sibling comment points out), but not if your end-goal is to apply your theory or its predictions in the real world. Then suddenly the soundest and most coherent of theories can fall apart. > There is value in approaching problems analytically rather than resorting to empirical methods. Sure, but whether your arrive at your predictions analytically or empirically it does not preclude you from testing them experimentally.
spaceprison 6y ago
This is anecdata but I know a lot of people that AA has worked for (tens of years of sobriety) attribute a portion of their success and sanity on doing a daily gratitude list.
- crystalcamarao 6y ago
  That’s nice to know. Thanks for sharing!
kilroy123 6y ago
Mandatory, this is anecdotal... I do this every morning when I wake up and have for a good year or so. I honestly don't notice much of a difference.
- yboris 6y ago
  Not anecdotal, please see links to research in other comments. Furthermore, just because something doesn't work for you, doesn't mean it doesn't work for others. Additionally, unless you've been keeping a log before and after you started the interventions, you should be at least skeptical about the difference you expect. It's entirely possible you got better, adjusted to the norm, and just think you feel as good as you normally do - while your "normal" is better than before. Finally, the effect is more likely to be pronounced in people feeling worse than average. If your life is fantastic, you might not get much of a benefit from an intervention that has otherwise strong effects on people.
  - crystalcamarao 6y ago
    Makes sense. Thanks for sharing!
  - kilroy123 6y ago
    Fair enough
- crystalcamarao 6y ago
  Sorry to hear that. Thanks for sharing!
webmobdev 6y ago
Not OP, but it seems to be a well-researched topic ("Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration" - https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/GratitudePDFs/2Wood-GratitudeWell-BeingReview.pdf https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/GratitudePDFs/2Wood-Gr... ) from 1930's onward! Social scientists have focused on gratitude since the 1930s (Baumgarten-Tramer, 1938; Bergler, 1945, 1950; Gouldner, 1960; Heider, 1958; Schwartz, 1967; Simmel, 1950). Though it has been considered fundamental to the maintenance of reciprocity obligations between people (Gouldner, 1960; Simmel, 1950) and evolutionarily adaptive for its promotion of altruistic behavior (Trivers, 1971), the bulk of empirical research occurred over the past dozen years because psychological research was long dominated by a focus on pathology rather than flourishing (Seligman & Csik- szentmihalyi, 2000). Two classic studies—showing that expressing and experiencing gratitude bring peace of mind, satisfying personal relationships, and well-being (Emmons & McCullough, 2003; McCullough et al., 2002)—catalyzed the field, and since then a girth of research on gratitude and its applications have emerged. Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279403394_Gratitude_in_Practice_and_the_Practice_of_Gratitude https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279403394_Gratitude...
- crystalcamarao 6y ago
  That’s super helpful. Thanks for sharing!

floverfelt 6y ago

As best as we know it does: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-...

king_magic 6y ago
That's great, exactly what I was looking for. OP should link to something like this.
- crystalcamarao 6y ago
  Yes, that's a very good suggestion. Thanks for sharing!
crystalcamarao 6y ago
Thanks for sharing! Here's something I found to add to that: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313845439_%27The_Three_Good_Things%27_-_The_effects_of_gratitude_practice_on_wellbeing_A_randomised_controlled_trial https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313845439_%27The_Th...
neonological 6y ago
https://www.prevention.com/life/a20434535/how-being-selfish-makes-people-happier/ https://www.prevention.com/life/a20434535/how-being-selfish-...
- crystalcamarao 6y ago
  Any particular reason you shared this? A bit confused how it’s relevant.

wunderflix 6y ago

I am a bit skeptic when it comes to these things. But, I have been doing a 1 min "prayer" every day while taking a shower in the morning. I remind myself how well I am off compared to many people and what a great family I have etc. It has really helped me to start the day with a calmer mind.

crystalcamarao 6y ago
Yes, I think it does help. Thanks for sharing!

gkilmain 6y ago

I hear what you're saying but ... have you tried it? Seems like a simple enough exercise. Heck, maybe I'll try it.

BeetleB 6y ago
I have, and I disagree. Maybe it's because my outlook is generally one of being grateful, so I may have already received the benefits without this exercise. In any case, I'd be wary of any claims like this unless someone tries it for at least 6 months. I expect initially one will get benefits but after N months it fizzles away.
- gkilmain 6y ago
  I'm going to give it a go with the old pencil / paper. Hopefully, if it works and then fizzles away, it'll fizzle because i've gained the benefit. Six months tho - might be tough.
  - krrrh 6y ago
    I've tried it a few times when I've been in periods of relative depression, either with the paper 5 minute journal or with the app of the same name. The habit lasts for a week and then fades away as I start to get engaged in life gain. Maybe that would have happened without the journaling, but it's such a low cost exercise and it feels like it makes a difference.
    - crystalcamarao 6y ago
      Yes, it does feel that way for me too. Thanks for sharing!
  - crystalcamarao 6y ago
    Good luck and thanks for sharing!
- crystalcamarao 6y ago
  Maybe it depends on a lot of factors. Thanks for sharing!

billfruit 6y ago

Even peer reviewed research won't make me believe claims like that. Experimental psychology seems a field plagued by replicability crisis, and frankly I think the field is just a self perpetuating paper mill for those in it, and a futile pursuit. Psychology in my view needs a theoritical approach. Did Freud, William James etc need to do experiments with 30 graduate students to study about the working of the mind, and behaviour of people?.

b3kart 6y ago
With no experimental validation my theory is as good as Freud’s theory for all intents and purposes. Maybe we should be thinking around improving experimental methodology instead? Then we can try to come up with complex theories and test them.
- billfruit 6y ago
  Without resorting to experiments, theories can be valuable in themselves, their soundness of argument, their coherence, and them not leading to confounding and condtradictory predictions can guide us as to their validity. There is value in approaching problems analytically rather than resorting to empirical methods.
  - euthymiclabs 6y ago
    Modern psychology is heavily driven by both theory and empiric techniques. The theories themselves are rich and generally cohesive, but without empirical validation, they are essentially bare philosophy. Of course they aren't as water tight as the theories and observations of physics, but if you spend any time in the core psychological literature, you'll find a ton of theoretical work.
  - b3kart 6y ago
    Spotted a mathematician. ;-) > theories can be valuable in themselves Maybe they can be (in pure mathematics, or philosophy, as the sibling comment points out), but not if your end-goal is to apply your theory or its predictions in the real world. Then suddenly the soundest and most coherent of theories can fall apart. > There is value in approaching problems analytically rather than resorting to empirical methods. Sure, but whether your arrive at your predictions analytically or empirically it does not preclude you from testing them experimentally.

spaceprison 6y ago

This is anecdata but I know a lot of people that AA has worked for (tens of years of sobriety) attribute a portion of their success and sanity on doing a daily gratitude list.

crystalcamarao 6y ago
That’s nice to know. Thanks for sharing!

kilroy123 6y ago

Mandatory, this is anecdotal... I do this every morning when I wake up and have for a good year or so. I honestly don't notice much of a difference.

yboris 6y ago
Not anecdotal, please see links to research in other comments. Furthermore, just because something doesn't work for you, doesn't mean it doesn't work for others. Additionally, unless you've been keeping a log before and after you started the interventions, you should be at least skeptical about the difference you expect. It's entirely possible you got better, adjusted to the norm, and just think you feel as good as you normally do - while your "normal" is better than before. Finally, the effect is more likely to be pronounced in people feeling worse than average. If your life is fantastic, you might not get much of a benefit from an intervention that has otherwise strong effects on people.
- crystalcamarao 6y ago
  Makes sense. Thanks for sharing!
- kilroy123 6y ago
  Fair enough
crystalcamarao 6y ago
Sorry to hear that. Thanks for sharing!

webmobdev 6y ago

Not OP, but it seems to be a well-researched topic ("Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration" - https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/GratitudePDFs/2Wood-GratitudeWell-BeingReview.pdf https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/GratitudePDFs/2Wood-Gr... ) from 1930's onward! Social scientists have focused on gratitude since the 1930s (Baumgarten-Tramer, 1938; Bergler, 1945, 1950; Gouldner, 1960; Heider, 1958; Schwartz, 1967; Simmel, 1950). Though it has been considered fundamental to the maintenance of reciprocity obligations between people (Gouldner, 1960; Simmel, 1950) and evolutionarily adaptive for its promotion of altruistic behavior (Trivers, 1971), the bulk of empirical research occurred over the past dozen years because psychological research was long dominated by a focus on pathology rather than flourishing (Seligman & Csik- szentmihalyi, 2000). Two classic studies—showing that expressing and experiencing gratitude bring peace of mind, satisfying personal relationships, and well-being (Emmons & McCullough, 2003; McCullough et al., 2002)—catalyzed the field, and since then a girth of research on gratitude and its applications have emerged. Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279403394_Gratitude_in_Practice_and_the_Practice_of_Gratitude https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279403394_Gratitude...

crystalcamarao 6y ago
That’s super helpful. Thanks for sharing!