Gratitude in the 21st Century: An Experimental Examination of Gratitude Expressions on Facebook and Resultant Subjective Well-Bein

This dissertation research investigates gratitude expressions on social networking sites (SNS), specifically Facebook. This study employs a pretest/posttest, 3-group experimental design to assess the impact of gratitude expressions and Facebook domains on three measures of subjective well-being: gratitude (GQ-6), satisfaction with life (SWLS), and positive/negative mood (PANAS). Measures of subjective well-being were taken pre-intervention (Day 1, N = 352), post-intervention (Day 7, n = 219), and 30 days, post-intervention (Day 37, n = 70). At Day 1 and Day 7, a one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed to assess any differences between intervention groups and the positive dependent variables, while a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine whether there were any significant differences between the intervention groups and the one negative scale. At Day 37, a two-way mixed ANOVA was conducted. Finally, several correlational (Pearson's r) inquiries were also run. Results from this dissertation study suggested that expressions of gratitude in any Facebook domain (public or private) did not result in increased subjective well-being. Correlations did exist, however, between participants' levels of self-disclosure, meaning, strength, and meaning of friend's responses and several measures of subjective well-being, with the most enduring correlates occurring in the public gratitude condition. Implications of gratitude on SNS and social support via Facebook are discussed.