Positive Affect (PA) can be defined as a set of characteristics such as confidence, self-efficacy, pro-social behaviour and optimism that serve to encourage an individual to engage with their environment and pursue their goals (Lyubomirsky, King and Diener 2005).
Froh, Kashdan, Ozimkowski and Miller (2009) maintain that people with low PA require more positive experiences to match the level of PA experienced by people who are generally happier. According to Froh et al. (2009) cultivation of gratitude can result increased positive affect. Grant and Gino (2010) found that gratitude expressions increased both the initiation and maintenance of pro-social behavior, a characteristic of PA.
Froh et al (2009) studied whether gratitude cultivation would affect the level of PA of children and adolescents. They assessed 89 children and adolescents split into two groups that either wrote a letter of gratitude or wrote about daily activities. They found that children with low PA who cultivated gratitude reported greater levels of gratitude and PA, compared to the control group, at post-treatment and two months.
References:
Froh J.J., Kashdan T.B., Ozimkowski K.M. & Miller N. (2009). Who benefits the most from a gratitude intervention in children and adolescents? Examining positive affect as a moderator, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4 (5) 408-422. DOI: 10.1080/17439760902992464
Grant A.M. & Gino F. (2010). A little thanks goes a long way: Explaining why gratitude expressions motivate prosocial behavior., Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98 (6) 946-955. DOI: 10.1037/a0017935
Lyubomirsky S., King L. & Diener E. (2005). The Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success?, Psychological Bulletin, 131 (6) 803-855. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.803
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