The Future of Gratitude, Mental Health and Technology

The Buzz 1: Grateful people feel more optimistic and happy, better mitigate aversive experiences, and have stronger interpersonal bonds. Gratitude interventions have been shown to result in improved sleep, more frequent exercise, and stronger cardiovascular and immune systems. [psywb.springeropen.com] The Buzz 2: Children spend an average of 53 hours per week with digital media — video games, social media, reality TV, exposure to violence, virtual connections that replace face-to-face friendships – which researchers fear may be causing a decline in empathy. [doinggoodtogether.org] The Buzz 3: Expressing gratitude can positively change your brain. It boosts dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters in the brain that improve your mood immediately, giving you those positive feelings of pleasure, happiness, and well-being. [healthcare.utah.edu] The Buzz 4: Gratitude apps will help you improve your mood by focusing on the good things in your life. [makeuseof.com] We’ll ask Karen Gibson, Deslynn Jaquias, Sandy Davies and Sarah Klaiber for their take on The Future of Gratitude, Attitude, Mental Health and Technology.