The Power of Gratitude in Schools & Universities

The beauty of gratitude, and the power with which it functions, lies in its simplicity. As trite as it feels to talk about counting our blessings and teaching kids to say “thanks” when we live in a world riddled with educational inequities among other systemic issues, we also can’t overlook all of the proof that gratitude does wonders for students and educators alike in helping us see the good again—which is exactly the kind of remedy we need to stay positive and feel connected.

According to Greater Good Magazine, gratitude research conducted in schools and colleges have shown a variety of physical and mental health benefits, alongside evidence that gratitude contributes to:

• A greater willingness to trust others,
• An enhanced sense of social support, school belonging, and satisfaction with the school experience, and
• A reduction in perceived stress and depression.

It’s important to note that cultivating spaces of mutual trust and support comes first before anything else—making classrooms and faculty rooms identity-safe spaces then allows for genuine, not hollow, gratitude rituals. Moreover, culture, race, religion, and socioeconomic status are all factors that influence the ways in which colleagues and students choose to express and practice gratitude. Holding group discussions and making collaborative decisions on how and when individuals are most comfortable expressing thanks—whether it’s orally, in writing, or behaviorally—makes it much more likely for students and faculty to develop habits around gratitude.

Researchers Jeffrey J. Froh and Giacomo Bono propose a few simple principles to support a gratitude curriculum across all subjects and grade levels:

1. Notice intentions, i.e. encouraging students and educators to consider how someone noticed their need and acted on it;
2. Appreciate costs, i.e. stressing the time and effort a person sacrifices to provide help; and
3. Recognize the value of benefits, i.e. being aware of the benefits one reaps from such acts of service or kindness.

The idea behind this curriculum is not simply to identify rewarding experiences when they happen, but to also take into account how or why they happened, and what you get from them.

On the other hand, one practice students and educators can consider for personal use is Soul—which sends intelligent nudges via text message to people who sign up, asking them to share gratitude on convenient days. The timing of Soul’s SMS outreaches are designed to be consciously varied and research-informed, as are its gratitude prompts.

For those who still aren’t convinced by the perks of building a gratitude ritual, here are even more advantages to it in schools and universities:

• New friends. A study from 2014 discovered that thanking a new acquaintance makes one more likely to want to pursue an ongoing relationship.
• Better existing friendships. Isn’t this one a no-brainer? More positive and grateful communication makes any relationship closer.
• Increased empathy and decreased aggression. A 2012 study by the University of Kentucky found that participants who received higher ranks on gratitude scales were less likely to retaliate against others, even when given negative feedback.
• Improved self-esteem and less self-centered-ness. Studies have shown a correlation between gratitude and reduced social comparison.
• Heightened mental strength. Not only does gratitude combat stress, it also helps boost resiliency and overcome trauma. A study from 2006 published in Behavior Research and Therapy showed that Vietnam War veterans with higher gratitude levels experienced lower rates of PTSD.

The proof is in the research! If teachers and professors can successfully—and consistently—leverage gratitude in personal, interpersonal, and classroom applications, it can become a powerful, even transformative tool.