Who needs the benefits of gratitude? We all do.

65 couples participated in a University of North Carolina at Chapel 

Hill study which looked at how gratitude affects relationships.   

“Feelings of gratitude and generosity are helpful in solidifying our 

relationships with people we care about, and benefit the one giving 

as well as the one on the receiving end.”  Showing Gratitude for Partner’s Generosity Strengthens Bonds, http://news.health.com/2010/05/26/showing-gratitude-for-partners-generosity-strengthens-bonds/#

Todd Kashdan, associate professor of psychology at George Mason 

University questioned whether gender plays a role in being able to 

express gratitude.  His research found that women feel “less burden

and obligation and greater levels of gratitude when presented with 

gifts.  In addition, older men reported greater negative emotions 

when the gift giver was another man.”  This researcher went on to 

say that our society teaches men to conceal their softer emotions 

which may limit their well being.  Key to Happiness is Gratitude and Men May be Locked Out, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090313145939.htm

Gratefulness benefits teenagers.  A study followed 700 New 

Yorkers ages 10 to 14 over a four year period.  They found that 

“grateful teens are more likely than their less grateful peers to be 

happy, less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol and less likely to have 

behavior problems at school.”  Growing Up Grateful Gives Teens Multiple Mental Health Benefits, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120806093938.htm