Publication: Gratitude, gratitude intervention and well-being in Malaysia
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Issued Date
2018
Resource Type
File Type
application/pdf
ISSN
19064675
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85058266083
Rights Holder(s)
Scopus
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Behavioral Science. Vol 13, No.2 (2018), p.1-18
Suggested Citation
Noor N.M., Rahman N.D.A., Zahari M.I.A.M. Gratitude, gratitude intervention and well-being in Malaysia. Journal of Behavioral Science. Vol 13, No.2 (2018), p.1-18. Retrieved from: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14740/3945
Author(s)
Abstract
Gratitude has generally been neglected by psychologists due to the emphasis on the medical model. A dearth of research on gratitude in Malaysia was the main impetus for these studies. Study 1 compared the gratitude scores Malaysian Malays against the US, UK, China and Japan, along an individualist-collective continuum, and results showed Malays had lower gratitude scores than the others, except for the Japanese. To increase their gratitude scores, Study 2 carried out an intervention using 'the three good things' exercise on 59 students over a period of 14 days. The intervention increased gratitude and life satisfaction as well as reduced distress. Furthermore, a hierarchical regression examining the effect of gratitude on well-being controlling for measures of affect and religiosity at Time 1, showed that Time-2 gratitude was only predictive of Time-2 distress. The results are discussed with respect to the collectivist culture of the Malays where negative aspects of the self are valued as a form of self-criticism to help one to constantly improve oneself. Two main implications are noted: that there are cross-cultural differences in the way gratitude is understood and expressed in the Malay culture, and that engaging in positive activity may sometimes be counterproductive to well-being. © 2018, Behavioral Science Research Institute.