Nova Southeastern University, Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA.
J Adolesc. 2013 Oct;36(5):983-91. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.07.012. Epub 2013 Aug 28.
The literature suggests gratitude is associated with positive youth development. The current study examined the relationship between gratitude and protective/risk factors among African American youth. Adolescents (N = 389; 50.4% males) ages 12-14 completed measures of gratitude (moral affect and life-orientation), protective factors (e.g., academic and activity engagement, family relationship), and high-risk behaviors (e.g., sexual attitudes and behaviors, drug/alcohol use). Results indicated greater moral affect gratitude was the only variable significantly associated with greater academic interest, better academic performance, and more extra-curricular activity engagement. Greater moral affect and life-orientation gratitude both significantly correlated with positive family relationship. Greater life-orientation gratitude was the only variable significantly associated with abstinence from sexual intimacy, sexual intercourse, likelihood of engaging in sex during primary school, and abstinence from drug/alcohol use. The findings suggest that moral affect gratitude may enhance protective factors while life-orientation gratitude may buffer against high-risk behaviors among African American youth.
文献表明感恩与青少年积极发展有关。本研究考察了感恩与非裔美国青少年保护/风险因素之间的关系。青少年（N=389；男性占 50.4%）年龄在 12-14 岁之间，完成了感恩（道德情感和生活取向）、保护因素（如学业和活动参与、家庭关系）和高风险行为（如性态度和行为、药物/酒精使用）的测量。结果表明，道德情感感恩是唯一与更大的学业兴趣、更好的学业成绩和更多课外活动参与显著相关的变量。更大的道德情感和生活取向感恩都与积极的家庭关系显著相关。更大的生活取向感恩是唯一与避免性亲密、性交、小学期间发生性行为的可能性以及避免药物/酒精使用显著相关的变量。研究结果表明，道德情感感恩可能会增强保护因素，而生活取向感恩可能会缓冲非裔美国青少年的高风险行为。
