Reciprocal relationships between State gratitude and high- and low-arousal positive affects in daily life: A time-lagged ecological assessment study

Lilian Jans-Beken*, Nele Jacobs, Mayke Janssens, Sanne Peeters, Jennifer Reijnders, Lilian Lechner, Johan Lataster

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This study assessed whether state gratitude and high and low-arousal positive affect show reciprocal relationships in daily life, and whether these relationships are dependent of inter-individual differences in positive mental health or psychopathology. 106 participants reported on momentary gratitude and positive affects throughout 7 consecutive days, using the Experience Sampling Method. Multilevel time-lagged regression analyses showed that state gratitude, cheerfulness and satisfaction reciprocally predict one another from one moment to the next. The strength of the prospective relationships between state gratitude(t-1) and both cheerfulness(t) and satisfaction(t) did not vary as a function of inter-individual differences in positive mental health or psychopathology. However, the prospective effects of both cheerfulness(t-1) and satisfaction(t-1) on state gratitude(t) were significantly stronger for individuals with low vs. high levels of psychopathology. In addition, the prospective effect of cheerfulness(t-1) on state gratitude(t) was significantly stronger for those with high vs. low positive mental health.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)512-527
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of positive psychology
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Jul 2019

Keywords

  • Ecological Momentary Assessment
  • ESM
  • diary
  • grateful
  • active affect
  • deactive affect
  • psychopathology
  • positive mental health
  • flourishing
  • depression
  • EXPERIENCE SAMPLING METHOD
  • MENTAL-HEALTH CONTINUUM
  • AFFECTIVE REACTIVITY
  • REWARD EXPERIENCE
  • NEGATIVE AFFECT
  • INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES
  • PROSPECTIVE PREDICTOR
  • MOMENTARY ASSESSMENT
  • DAILY STRESSORS
  • SOCIAL ANXIETY

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