Appreciation (Including Gratitude) and Affective Well-Being: Appreciation Predicts Positive and Negative Affect Above the Big Five Personality Factors and Demographics

This study investigated the relation between appreciation and positive and negative affect, controlling for gender, age, ethnicity, and Big Five personality factors. Appreciation consists of several aspects, including a focus on what one has (“have” focus), awe, gratitude, and interpersonal appreciation. Undergraduates (N = 236) completed an online survey containing the Appreciation Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and Big Five Inventory (BFI). The Big Five traits accounted for 38% and 43% of the variance in positive and negative affect, respectively, beyond demographics. Appreciation accounted for 9% (p <.001) and 4.6% (p <.05) of the variance in positive and negative affect, respectively, beyond demographics and the Big Five. The “have” focus aspect of appreciation, which represents noticing, focusing on, and valuing what one has, accounted for significant unique variance in both positive and negative affect. Gratitude did not. Future research is needed to determine how broadly these results generalize.