A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that a seven-day gratitude program in Polish schools reduced cyber-aggression among adolescents, but had mixed results when it came to boys and students with medium levels of existing gratitude. The researchers recruited 548 seventh- and eighth-grade students from urban and rural areas and divided them into an experimental group that participated in the gratitude program and a control group.
The study showed that girls in the experimental group improved significantly, with reductions in almost all types of cyber-aggression. However, boys in the experimental group did not show a similar decrease in aggression scores, and some even increased their scores.
The researchers suggest that this discrepancy may be due to differing social norms and expressions of masculinity among boys. Boys may view gratitude as a sign of weakness or indebtedness, which can make it difficult for them to express their feelings publicly.
The study also found that students with low levels of gratitude initially benefited the most from the program, while those with medium levels of gratitude showed little change. Students with high levels of gratitude already practiced appreciation and showed no further improvement after the intervention.
The researchers emphasize that a one-size-fits-all approach to social-emotional learning may not be effective for all students. They propose that interventions need to be tailored to individual differences, including gender and personality traits.
Limitations of the study include the short duration of the program (only seven days) and reliance on self-reported data from adolescents. Future research should explore longer-term interventions and use objective measures to strengthen findings.
Source: https://www.psypost.org/why-forced-gratitude-might-make-some-teens-meaner-online