Is the secret to happiness gratitude?

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

TWO IN THREE (65%) PEOPLE WHO FEEL VERY HAPPY ON A DAILY BASIS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION FOR OTHERS. 

THAT’S ACCORDING TO A STUDY CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF MOTIVOSITY. 

THEY SURVEYED 2,000 AMERICANS TO LOOK FOR POTENTIAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EXPRESSING GRATITUDE AND HAPPINESS.

THEY FOUND THE AVERAGE RESPONDENT BOTH RECEIVES AND EXPRESSES GRATITUDE WITH OTHERS ABOUT SIX TIMES A MONTH.

REGIONALLY, RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTHWEST (AZ, NM, TX) WERE MORE LIKELY TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE COUNTY (75%), FOLLOWED BY THOSE IN THE NORTHEAST (74%) AND MIDWEST (73%). 

MEANWHILE, SOUTHEAST (68%) AND WEST COAST RESIDENTS (63%) WERE LESS LIKELY TO SHOW GRATITUDE. 

REGARDLESS, TWO IN FIVE (42%) SAY A SPOKEN “THANK YOU” GOES A LONG WAY FOLLOWED BY A WRITTEN THANK YOU NOTE (21%) AND PHYSICAL REWARDS LIKE GIFTS (17%). 

RESPONDENTS SAY THEY RECEIVE THE MOST GRATITUDE FROM THEIR SPOUSES OR PARTNERS (28%), FAMILY MEMBERS (26%), AND FRIENDS (24%) – WITH BOSSES (17%) AND CO-WORKERS (15%) TRAILING FURTHER DOWN THE LIST.