Correlates of gratitude disposition in middle school students: Gender differences

Issue title: Recent Trends in Convergence-based Smart Healthcare Service

Guest editors: Sang-Yeob Ohv, Supratip Ghosew, Kyungyong Chungx, Joong-Kyung Ryuy and Jung-Soo Hanz

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Choi, Jung-hyun^a | Yu, Mi^{b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Nursing, Namseoul University, Cheonan, Korea | [b] College of Nursing, Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongsang, Korea | [v] Department of Interactive Media, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea | [w] Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Information Technology and Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh | [x] Department of Computer Information Engineering, Sangji University, Wonju, Korea | [y] Department of Computer Software, Daelim University, Gyeonggi-do, Korea | [z] Division of Information and Communication, Baekseok University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Mi Yu, College of Nursing, 900 Gajwa-dong, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongnam, 550-701, Korea.Tel.: +82 2 557 1278; E-mail: yumi825@naver.com.

Abstract: Background:Gratitude disposition is positively associated with happiness. Objectives:The purpose of this study was to identify influencing factors on gratitude disposition by gender differences in middle school students. Methods:Cross-sectional study using self-reported questionnaires were administered to participants (n = 372) aged between 13∼15 years in Seoul and Chungnam Province in Korea. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS18.0 statistical program, and frequency analysis and logistic regression analysis were used in the research. Results:The mean score of family abuse of boys was significantly higher than girls' score (t = 3.016, p = 0.003). In subscales of development assets, empowerment (t = 2.264, p = 0.024), boundaries and expectation (t = 2.476, p = 0.014), and commitment to learning (t = 1.971, p = 0.049) were significantly higher in boys. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR 0.334, CI 0.130∼0.862), peer relationship (OR 2.280, CI 1.124∼4.623), social support (OR 2.584, CI 1.176∼5.676), positive identity (OR 3.138, CI 1.256∼7.840) were significantly associated with gratitude disposition for boys, while school violence (OR 0.050, CI 0.003∼0.907) and positive identity (OR 2.937, CI 1.313∼6.567) were significantly associated with gratitude disposition for girls. Conclusion:This study suggests that it is important to protect adolescents from family abuse and school violence, furthermore, developmental assets should be developed to increase to gratitude disposition.

Keywords: Gratitude disposition, middle school student, positive identity

DOI: 10.3233/THC-140804

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 459-466, 2014