Title:
Stress and life satisfaction: the impact of a gratitude journal on students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
Author:
Jeffrey Michael Antico
Thesis Advisor:
Kristine E. Larson
Committee Member:
Rachel E. Durham
Committee Member:
Eleanor M. Donaghue
Degree Granting Institution:
Notre Dame of Maryland University--School of Education
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Date Created:
2023
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
Students in secondary education (grades 9-12) commonly self-report experiencing stress relating to their education, which is referred to as academic-related stress (Pasco et al., 2019). For high-achieving secondary students, there is a heightened sense of academic-related stress, especially to perform well and earn high grades (Suldo et al., 2008; Suldo and Shaunessy-Dedrick, 2013b; Suldo et al., 2009), especially among students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) (Suldo and Shaunessy-Dedrick, 2013b; Suldo et al., 2009). Additionally, associations between stress levels and reduced life satisfaction have been established (Moksnes et al., 2016).The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine whether gratitude journaling decreased levels of stress and increased levels of life satisfaction, both immediately after the intervention and after a three-week period, and to examine the differential effects of the intervention by demographic characteristics, such as gender and grade level. Quantitative data from survey ratings were collected for both stress and life satisfaction levels from students enrolled in the IB DP before the intervention, after the intervention, and again after a three-week period. Qualitative data were used to explore and analyze students' experiences.Results suggest that stress levels significantly decreased and life satisfaction levels significantly increased for students who participated in the gratitude journal intervention, when compared to before the intervention. After a three-week period, these same participants reported a significant increase in stress levels. The results also indicate that those who participated in the control group, when compared to before the treatment, experienced significantly lower stress levels and significantly higher life satisfaction levels. After the three-week period, there was a significant difference between the two groups for changes in life satisfaction levels. When testing for the interaction between gender and intervention and grade and intervention, results showed the gratitude journal group significantly differed in life satisfaction levels. Post hoc analysis indicated that when controlling for gender and grade level, the number of journal entries for the gratitude group was significant when measuring changes in levels of life satisfaction. Student suggestions for future improvements and support were also analyzed. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Subject:
Gratitude
Subject:
Diaries--Authorship
Subject:
Anxiety
Subject:
Electronic dissertations
Subject:
Academic theses
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Level:
Doctoral
Discipline:
Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
Use and Reproduction:
The authors of theses and dissertations are the copyright owners. Loyola Notre Dame Library has their permission to store and provide access to these works. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Permission is required to use materials for which Loyola Notre Dame Library, Loyola University Maryland, or Notre Dame of Maryland University hold copyright. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift of purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Identifier:
AnticoJM-23
