Facts about Gratitude
- 09
Handwritten thank-you notes activate the prefrontal cortex and striatum in recipients' brains, areas associated with social bonding and reward processing, according to a 2011 study from Indiana University.
- 08
Gratitude interventions reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by 23% over eight weeks, according to a 2016 meta-analysis of 38 studies published in the Journal of Happiness Studies.
- 07
Cardiovascular disease risk decreases by approximately 21% in individuals who regularly practice gratitude, according to a 2015 study published in JAMA Cardiology examining over 186 adults with heart disease.
- 06
Grateful individuals donate 22% more money to charitable causes than control groups, according to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology.
- 05
People who practice gratitude show improved sleep quality and longer sleep duration, with a 2011 study from the University of Manchester finding that grateful individuals slept an average of 30 minutes longer per night.
- 04
In a 2012 study, Robert Emmons found that people who wrote down three specific things they were grateful for weekly experienced 10% increases in physical activity and reported fewer doctor visits over ten weeks.
- 03
Expressing gratitude to others increases oxytocin levels by up to 13% within minutes, according to 2013 research from the University of California, strengthening social bonding and trust.
- 02
A 2003 Stanford University study found that participants who kept gratitude journals for just two weeks reported 25% more life satisfaction compared to control groups.
- 01
The amygdala, a brain region processing emotions, shows reduced activity in individuals who regularly practice gratitude, according to 2015 research from UC Davis.