The Relations between the Development of Gratitude and Types of Values in Youth

Abstract We studied the relations between the development of gratitude and types of values. A total of 396 7- to 14-year-old youth group responded to the Wishes and Gratitude Survey. We expected that, with the increase in age, there would be (a) a decrease of hedonistic values and (b) a decrease of concrete gratitude and an increase in connective gratitude. Our third hypothesis was that it would be more likely for the young with hedonistic values express concrete gratitude and those with values related to the well-being of others (WBO) to express connective gratitude. To test these hypotheses we used regression analysis (curve estimation and logistic regression). With an increase in age, hedonistic values and concrete gratitude declined; there was no increase in connective gratitude. Hedonistic values were related positively to concrete gratitude. However WBO values were not related to connective gratitude.