The Effect of Gratitude Journaling on Altruism, Forgiveness and Resilience among College Students

Abstract

This study examines the effect of gratitude journaling on altruism, forgiveness, and resilience among college students. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 180 undergraduate participants aged 18-24 from a large university. Participants were randomly assigned to either a gratitude journaling group or a control group. The gratitude journaling group was instructed to write three things they were grateful for each day, while the control group received no intervention. The interventions lasted 8 weeks, with pre- and post-intervention assessments conducted to measure changes in altruism, forgiveness, and resilience. Results indicated significant improvements in all three psychological traits for the gratitude journaling group compared to the control group. Specifically, gratitude journaling led to a 15% increase in altruism, a 12% increase in forgiveness, and a 20% increase in resilience. These findings suggest that regular engagement in gratitude journaling can enhance prosocial behaviours and emotional well-being among college students. However, the study faced limitations, including the potential for self-report bias and the limited generalizability due to the single university sample. Future research should consider including more diverse populations and longer follow-up periods to validate and extend these findings. The study underscores the potential of gratitude journaling as a low-cost, practical intervention to foster positive psychological outcomes in educational settings, offering valuable insights for mental health programs and interventions tailored to the needs of college students.