Ruminating on the Positive: Paths from Trait Positive Emotionality to Event-Specific Gratitude

Kaitlin A. Harding (), Karly M. Murphy () and Amy Mezulis ()
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Kaitlin A. Harding: VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division
Karly M. Murphy: Seattle Pacific University
Amy Mezulis: Seattle Pacific University

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2019, vol. 20, issue 1, No 7, 117 pages

Abstract: Abstract Positive emotions and gratitude are essential contributors to happiness and well-being, but how trait tendencies toward positive emotionality and gratitude differ in predicting event-specific gratitude are poorly understood. Furthermore, no research has examined whether people who exhibit greater trait tendencies toward positive emotions or gratitude experience greater event-specific gratitude in response to positive events, or whether cognitively amplifying positive emotions in response to positive events mediates these relationships to enhance event-specific gratitude experiences. Our 8-week, prospective study of 145 adults examined whether greater trait positive emotionality and greater trait gratitude would distinctly predict greater event-specific gratitude as mediated by two types of positive rumination (self-focused and emotion-focused) in response to positive events. Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that when considered jointly, greater trait positive emotionality predicted greater event-specific gratitude, and greater emotion-focused positive rumination mediated the effects of trait positive emotionality on event-specific gratitude. Findings supported that individuals with greater trait positive emotionality were more likely to positively ruminate about positive emotional experiences and this partially explained their increase in event-specific gratitude. Findings also suggested that trait positive emotionality and trait gratitude are distinct but related constructs that differentially relate to event-specific gratitude. In the pursuit of happiness and well-being, literature on gratitude interventions may benefit from incorporating emotion-focused positive rumination strategies to promote gratitude in response to positive events.

Keywords: Gratitude; Positive emotion; Positive rumination; Rumination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-017-9940-4

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