Psychologist Jeffrey Froh infused middle-school classes with a small dose of gratitude -- and found that it made students feel more connected to their friends, family, and their school. They followed 221 middle school students for five weeks. Students in the gratitude condition indeed found that they had many blessings to count. While some of these were a bit idiosyncratic (e.g., being thankful for Star Wars books), the common denominator was acknowledging a gift given by a benefactor. Their journals included entries such as: "I am grateful that my mom didn't go crazy when I accidentally broke a patio table," and, "My coach helped me out at baseball practice." And the greater benefits of giving thanks? The results were clear: Higher levels of optimism, increased life satisfaction, and decreased negative feelings were all associated with students' expressions of gratitude.
