Schienle Anne, Tanzmeister Sandra, Osmani Florian
Clinical Psychology, University of Graz, Austria.
Clinical Psychology, University of Graz, Austria.
Acta Psychol (Amst). 2025 Apr;254:104874. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104874. Epub 2025 Mar 6.
To improve the effectiveness of gratitude exercises in reducing anxiety and worry, app-assisted variations of the 'Three Good Things' intervention, differing in timing and instructions, were conducted.
Healthy participants (n = 227) exercised either in the morning versus evening (writing down three things that induced or could induce gratitude during the day) or received identical versus varying instructions to guide the listings. Short-term intervention effects were recorded using a smartphone application before and after each daily exercise, while mid-term effects were assessed based on changes in questionnaire scores following the two-week intervention.
Varied instructions had a greater impact on reducing state anxiety (worry and arousal). However, the timing of the exercises did not differentially influence the positive short-term and mid-term outcomes, including the reduction of state and trait worry. Participants preferred evening practice.
Based on the observed practice effects and participants' stated preferences, evening exercises with varied instructions for the 'Three Good Things' intervention should be prioritized to counteract anxiety and worry.
为提高感恩练习在减轻焦虑和担忧方面的效果，开展了“三件好事”干预的应用程序辅助变体，在时间安排和指导语方面存在差异。
健康参与者（n = 227）在早晨或晚上进行练习（写下当天引发或可能引发感恩的三件事），或者接受相同或不同的指导语来引导列举。每天练习前后使用智能手机应用程序记录短期干预效果，而中期效果则根据两周干预后问卷分数的变化进行评估。
不同的指导语对减轻状态焦虑（担忧和唤醒）有更大影响。然而，练习的时间安排并未对包括状态和特质担忧减轻在内的积极短期和中期结果产生差异影响。参与者更喜欢在晚上练习。
基于观察到的练习效果和参与者表达的偏好，对于“三件好事”干预，应优先选择在晚上进行、指导语不同的练习，以应对焦虑和担忧。
