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Children’s Expressions of Gratitude for General and Specific Categories Amid a Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Simone P. Nguyen

    (University of North Carolina Wilmington)

  • Cameron L. Gordon

    (Vancouver Island University)

Abstract

This naturalistic study examines how broad societal events like the COVID-19 pandemic affect children’s gratitude expressions for general and specific categories of needs. Gratitude expressions (N = 6908) written by children in the United States (N = 3613, Mage = 6.96 years) before the pandemic (November 2018, 2019) and during the pandemic (November 2020, 2021) were collected from online newspapers. The gratitude expressions were coded for general and specific categories based on Maslow’s Theory of Motivation. Between time periods, there was no difference in prevalence of gratitude for the fulfillment of the general categories of deficiency needs (physiological, safety, belongingness and love, esteem) and growth needs (cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualization, and transcendence) as well as the specific sub-categories that they subsume. However, within time periods, there was a greater prevalence for the fulfillment of deficiency than growth needs, especially the specific category of love and belongingness. Together these results highlight the enduring nature of particular categories in the face of a broad societal event and have implications for public policies and services aimed at protecting children and meeting their needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone P. Nguyen & Cameron L. Gordon, 2024. "Children’s Expressions of Gratitude for General and Specific Categories Amid a Pandemic," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 1-22, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:25:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00743-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00743-w
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