You've probably heard that cultivating gratitude can boost your happiness. But in marriage and families, it's not just about being more grateful for your loved ones -; it's also important to feel appreciated by them. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have previously explored the positive impact of perceived gratitude from romantic partners for couples' relationship quality.
In a new study, they show the benefits of perceived gratitude also apply to parent-child relationships and can promote individuals' mental health. Some of my previous research has looked at gratitude in an interpersonal context, particularly between couples, and we've found that it's a pretty influential factor for various aspects of the relationship. Individuals who feel more appreciated by their partners are more confident, satisfied, and committed and less concerned about instability.
" Allen Barton, lead author, Illinois Extension specialist and assistant professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Illinois "In this study we wanted to explore perceived gratitude in the broader family context, and whether it makes a difference for individual and relationship well-being, and for parenting outcomes." The study included data from a nationwide sample of 593 parents who were married or in a romantic relationship and had at least one child between the ages of 4 and 17. Participants answered questions abo.