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Abstract

In this study, the effects of gratitude writing (GW) and life goals writing (LGW) exercises on the subjective well-being (SWB) of Turkish freshmen were investigated. The study was carried out with a sample of 86 students (25 students in GW group, 28 students in LGW group, and 33 students in waiting list control group). Satisfaction with Life, Positive Affect and Negative Affect, Gratitude, and Life Goals scales were administered to the experimental and control groups before the treatment, after the treatment, and four week afterwards the treatment. Data were analyzed by using covariance analysis and t-test for related samples. Results indicated that, both the GW and LGW exercises were effective in increasing SWB among first year students. Additionally, GW exercise was found effective in increasing gratitude level, whereas LGW exercise was found effective in increasing extrinsic life goals. No significant differences were found between the retention test and posttest test means of all the dependent variables for the control group. But, for GW and LGW groups, significant decreases were found between the posttest and retention test for gratitude scores. Gender was not found as a contributing factor to SWB levels of the participants

Keywords

• subjective well-being, gratitude, life goals, college students

Minnettarlık ve Yaşam Amaçları Yazma Çalışmalarının Öznel İyi Oluşa Etkisi

Abstract

Öz: Bu araştırmada, minnettarlık yazma (MY) ve yaşam amaçları yazma (YAY) çalışmalarının birinci sınıf öğrencilerinin öznel iyi oluşları (ÖİO) üzerindeki etkileri Türk üniversite öğrencileri üzerinde incelenmiştir. Araştırma, MY (N=25), YAY (N=28) ve bekleme listesi kontrol grubunda (N=33) yer alan toplam 86 öğrenci ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmada Yaşam Doyumu, Pozitif ve Negatif Duygu, Minnettarlık ve Yaşam Amaçları Ölçekleri, MY, YAY ve kontrol gruplarına işlem öncesinde, işlem sonrasında ve işlemden dört hafta sonra uygulanmıştır. Veriler kovaryans analizi ve ilişkili örneklemler için t-testi ile çözümlenmiştir. Bulgular, her iki yazma çalışmasına katılan öğrencilerin de, işlem sonrasındaki ÖİO düzeylerinde manidar düzeyde bir artış olduğunu göstermiştir. Araştırmada ayrıca, MY alıştırmasının, katılanların minnettarlıklarını; YAY alıştırmasının ise katılanların dışsal amaçlarını diğer gruplardaki öğrencilerle karşılaştırıldığında manidar düzeyde arttırdığı görülmüştür. Kalıcılık testleri ile sontest ölçümleri arasında, kontrol grubu için hiçbir bağımlı değişkende manidar farklılık bulunmamıştır. Ancak, MY ve YAY gruplarında, yalnızca minnettarlık puanlarında, kalıcılık testinde sonteste göre manidar bir düşüş olduğu görülmüştür. Cinsiyetin katılımcıların ÖİO düzeyleri üzerinde manidar bir etkisi bulunmamıştır. Anahtar Sözcükler: öznel iyi oluş, minnettarlık, yaşam amaçları, üniversite öğrencileri Abstract: In this study, the effects of gratitude writing (GW) and life goals writing (LGW) exercises on the subjective well-being (SWB) of Turkish freshmen were investigated. The study was carried out with a sample of 86 students (25 students in GW group, 28 students in LGW group, and 33 students in waiting list control group). Satisfaction with Life, Positive Affect and Negative Affect, Gratitude, and Life Goals scales were administered to the experimental and control groups before the treatment, after the treatment, and four week afterwards the treatment. Data were analyzed by using covariance analysis and t-test for related samples. Results indicated that, both the GW and LGW exercises were effective in increasing SWB among first year students. Additionally, GW exercise was found effective in increasing gratitude level, whereas LGW exercise was found effective in increasing extrinsic life goals. No significant differences were found between the retention test and posttest test means of all the dependent variables for the control group. But, for GW and LGW groups, significant decreases were found between the posttest and retention test for gratitude scores. Gender was not found as a contributing factor to SWB levels of the participants. Keywords: subjective well-being, gratitude, life goals, college students

Keywords

• öznel iyi oluş, minnettarlık, yaşam amaçları, üniversite öğrencileri

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