Expressing Gratitude may Help Boost Your Relationship

Gratitude contributes to long-term success in relationships and well-being, up to six months after a deliberate expression to one's relationship's partner.

Are you struggling to save your relationship? Try and express gratitude, which may not only boost your relationship, but also enhance your psychological and physical well-being, finds a study.

The findings, published in the journal Review of Communication, showed that gratitude contributes to long-term success in relationships and personal well-being -- "up to six months after a deliberate expression to one's relationship's partner."

Older Men, Women Do Maintain Sexual Relationships Even After 80s
Expanded HIV testing and counseling can change behavior and help reduce new HIV transmission.

‘Gratitude consistently associates with many positive social, psychological, and health states, such as an increased likelihood of helping others, optimism, exercise, and reduced reports of physical symptoms.’

Just as we periodically boost our immune system through vaccines, we can boost our relationships and mental state by expressing gratitude to our partners on a regular basis, the researchers said.

Expressions of gratitude are often a response to others' acts of generosity -- if you receive a gift from someone, or an act of kindness, you reciprocate by showing gratitude, sometimes publicly, to highlight the giver's altruistic act.

Gratitude is a different emotion from happiness because it so often stems from the actions of another individual.

Role Of Jealousy in Romantic Relationships
Feelings of jealously motivate consumers to buy things that are more likely to recapture the attention of their partners.

"To experience gratitude, one must receive a message, and interpret the message," said Stephen M. Yoshimura from the National Communication Association -- a US-based not-for-profit.

"Gratitude consistently associates with many positive social, psychological, and health states, such as an increased likelihood of helping others, optimism, exercise, and reduced reports of physical symptoms," Yoshimura said.

Power Imbalances in Young Adult Relationships affect Women More
Inequality within a relationship does not cost men as much as women, because they are cushioned by a broader system of male privilege.

Regularly communicating gratitude may also enhance our social connectedness.

In addition, people who experience and express gratitude have reported fewer symptoms of physical illness, more exercise, and better quality of sleep.

Relationships of Incarcerated African-Americans and HIV Risk
Research on the sex partnerships of incarcerated African-American men and the types of partnerships likely to protect against STI/HIV-related sex risk is limited.

Various studies have also shown that expressing and experiencing gratitude increases life satisfaction, vitality, hope and optimism.

Moreover, it also contributes to decreased levels of depression, anxiety, envy and job-related stress and burnout, the researchers noted.

Source-IANS