Belonging to strong social ties is a fundamental need, and securing strong
and supportive relationships early on can provide the bedrock for many positive
outcomes in human development. Experiencing and expressing gratitude is one
way for youths (and adults) to boost their mood, strengthen their social ties, and
cultivate a sense of purposeful engagement with the world. Though having such
experiences are critical for healthy youth development, research on gratitude in
youth or the development of gratitude is only now emerging.
In terms of the potential benefits of gratitude to students and schools,
research should apply gratitude’s moral functions to adolescents’ relations with
peers and adults at school (e.g., mentors, role models, teachers, counselors). If
students feel respected and are able to focus on the people and things that they
appreciate at school, this should build trust with the very people who are trying to
help them. This should, in turn, foster a stronger satisfaction with and sense of
Experiencing and expressing gratitude has
many potential benefits for school outcomes,
including students’ enhanced character development,
positive emotions, and prosocial
behavior. Promoting gratitude can begin in the
middle level and continue into high school.
The use of simple techniques, such as gratitude
journals, is an effective and easily managed
procedure for accomplishing this goal. By
having staff members incorporate a few simple
practices, principals can help establish a school
culture in which gratitude contributes to student
well-being and attitudes and, by extension,
a more positive school climate. PL