Exploring the Effectiveness of Gratitude Journaling in Enhancing Mental Health among College Students

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19693390

Roshni Singh¹ and Sonam Kumari Rawat² (Department of Psychology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh¹ and
Department of Psychology, Feroze Gandhi College, Raebareli, (Associated with University of Lucknow, Lucknow) Uttar Pradesh²)

College students are the most vulnerable population to mental health issues due to academic stress, career pressure, and social challenges during the transition into adulthood, as well as into college life. These stressors often lead to reduce Mental Health, increased anxiety and burnout. This research aims to enhance the Mental Health of college students with the help of Gratitude Journaling. The study recruited 29 college students through purposive sampling. Gratitude journaling, a positive psychology practice that involves regularly noting things one is thankful for, has shown promise in enhancing emotional resilience and fostering positive mental states. The study assessed students’ level of Mental Health before and after journaling using the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). To meet the research objective, data will be analysed using descriptive statistics and a paired t-test. Results indicate that there is no significant difference between before and after gratitude journaling. The study would contribute to empirical evidence on the role of Gratitude Journaling in improving students’ Mental Health, and also provide practical implications for designing low-cost, scalable Mental Health programs in higher education institutions and workplace.