Abstract:

In this study, the effects of gratitude writing (GW) and life goals writing (LGW) exercises on the subjective well-being (SWB) of Turkish freshmen were investigated. The study was carried out with a sample of 86 students (25 students in GW group, 28 students in LGW group, and 33 students in waiting list control group). Satisfaction with Life, Positive Affect and Negative Affect, Gratitude, and Life Goals scales were administered to the experimental and control groups before the treatment, after the treatment, and four week afterwards the treatment. Data were analyzed by using covariance analysis and t-test for related samples. Results indicated that, both the GW and LGW exercises were effective in increasing SWB among first year students. Additionally, GW exercise was found effective in increasing gratitude level, whereas LGW exercise was found effective in increasing extrinsic life goals. No significant differences were found between the retention test and posttest test means of all the dependent variables for the control group. But, for GW and LGW groups, significant decreases were found between the posttest and retention test for gratitude scores. Gender was not found as a contributing factor to SWB levels of the participants

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