Mirage News
Mirage News
Mirage NewsScience26 Aug 2026 12:26 am AESTDate Time
Durham University
A new study from our Department of Psychology found that cultivating gratitude could help <a href="https://healthylife7.com/two-unvaccinated-people-die-of-measles-in-pennsylvania/” title=”Two unvaccinated people die of measles in Pennsylvania”>people adopt healthier habits
Gratitude linked to healthier behaviour
The study, published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, found that people who are more thankful or appreciative tend to practise a wide range of health-promoting behaviours
These include healthy eating, being physically active, getting enough sleep and managing stress
The findings suggest gratitude could support health and wellbeing across a much wider range of people than previously thought
Findings across different groups
Researchers analysed data from 24 separate studies involving 6,967 people
The participants included university students, adults from the wider community and people living with long-term health conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and cancer
The data was collected over nine years as part of a wider research programme exploring the relationship between gratitude and health
Previous research has linked gratitude with individual health behaviours, such as healthy eating or following medical advice
This new study found the relationship extends across several different behaviours and is seen in people from a variety of backgrounds
The researchers suggest that gratitude may encourage people to focus more on positive emotions and future outcomes, helping them make choices that support their health
A simple approach to supporting health
Lead author of the study Professor Fuschia Sirois emphasised gratitude could offer a straightforward way to support healthier behaviours
She said: “Cultivating gratituders.”
Professor Sirois added that gratitude interventions could provide an alternative, strengths-based approach to supporting healthier choices among people with health conditions, as well as students and the wider population
The British Psychological Society’s Division of Health Psychology said the findings highlighted the potential for gratitude interventions to support a preventative approach to health
The researchers now hope the findings will encourage further research into how gratitude-based approaches could help people develop healthier behaviours
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