Benefits and burdens: The role of trait gratitude in positive and negative exchanges in friendships

• Main Author: NAI, Ze Ling
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2017
• Subjects: trait gratitude; relationship expectations; relationship satisfaction; positive and negative social exchanges; Developmental Psychology; Social Psychology and Interaction
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/etd_coll_all/13; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=etd_coll_all
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Objective: This study examined the effects of trait gratitude on relationship satisfaction amongst friends through two potential mechanisms – perceived fulfillment of positive expectations and perceived burden of negative exchanges. The study also aimed to examine whether grateful people over-perceive the benefits received from friends. Method: 101 pairs of same-sex friends were recruited from Singapore Management University to take part in a dyad study. Participants were asked to rate their relationship expectations, and the benefits received and performed for their partner. Participants were also asked to rate their tolerance, and the burdens caused by and imposed on their partner. Results: Trait gratitude was positively associated with perceived benefits and relationship expectations. In addition, grateful people tended to over-perceive benefits received from their partners. Trait gratitude was also negatively associated with perceived burdens and grateful people were more likely to under-perceive burdens received from their partners. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest how grateful people experience greater relationship satisfaction. Other proposed implications include the role of expectations and perceptual illusions in relationships satisfaction.