状态感恩和特质感恩对幸福感的影响及其神经机制

Gratitude is an important positive emotion and can be conceptualized on state and trait levels. Previous studies have found that state and trait gratitude are closely related to well-being. However prior studies have respectively tested the behavioral association of state and trait gratitude with well-being, but less is known about the independent influence of state and trait gratitude on well-being of and the neural mechanism linking state and trait gratitude to well-being. The present project systematically investigates the independent influence of state and trait gratitude on well-being of and the neural mechanism how state and trait gratitude influence well–being based on hedonic and eudaimonic approaches. We conducted three studies. Study 1 used a vignette approach and self-reported questionnaires to examine the independent role of state and trait gratitude in predicting hedonic and eudaimonic well–being. Study 2 employed self-reported questionnaires to examine the common and separate neural circuit of how state and trait gratitude influence both types of well–being using multimodal neuroimaging techniques. Study 3 used a counting blessing intervention to investigate the neural circuit of how gratitude enhances both types of well–being. Taken together, these findings provide direct neural evidence for the relation between gratitude and well-being and help to construct the theory how gratitude influences well–being within a neuroscientific framework. In practical, the findings will provide theoretical guide for the development of the effective intervention method for well-being and offer a scientific evidence for gratitude education.

感恩是一种重要的积极情绪，分为状态感恩和特质感恩。以往研究表明，状态感恩和特质感恩都与幸福感有密切联系。但已有研究多是分别检验两种感恩与幸福感间的行为关联，对于它们对幸福感的独立影响及其背后的神经机制并不清楚。本项目将根据快乐论和实现论取向，探讨状态感恩和特质感恩对幸福感的独立影响及其神经机制。本项目设计了三个研究。研究一采用感恩故事情境法和问卷测量，考察状态感恩和特质感恩对快乐论幸福感或实现论幸福感的独立预测作用。研究二采用情节剧本任务和问卷测量，结合多模态神经影像技术，考察两种感恩影响快乐论幸福感或实现论幸福感的共享与独立神经通路。为进一步揭示因果机制，研究三采用细数恩惠方法，考察感恩干预提升两种幸福感的神经通路。总之，研究结果能为感恩与幸福感的关系提供直接的神经证据，并有助于建构和完善感恩影响幸福感的相关理论。研究结果为幸福干预方法的开发提供理论指导，也为开展感恩教育提供科学依据。

作为一种重要的积极情绪，感恩是人类社会交往的重要组成部分。目前学界一般认为，感恩分为状态感恩和特质感恩两种形式。已有研究发现，状态感恩和特质感恩与幸福感有着密切的联系。但已有研究多是从横向研究探讨状态感恩和特质感恩与幸福感间的行为关联，对二者背后的因果关系及其神经机制并不清楚。本项目将从特质和状态角度，探讨状态感恩和特质感恩影响幸福感的行为与神经机制。本项目主要发现：（1）纵向调查研究结果发现，特质感恩能预测随后的幸福感。日记法研究发现，在控制了特质感恩后，前一天感恩也能纵向预测个体后一天的幸福感，从而表明特质感恩和状态感恩对幸福感的独立影响作用。（2）中介分析表明，心理弹性和社会支持能中介特质感恩对幸福感的影响。多水平中介分析发现，当天的心理弹性和当天的社会支持能中介前一天感恩对后一天幸福感的影响。因此，心理弹性和社会支持是感恩影响幸福感的行为机制。（3）基于体素的形态学分析发现，特质感恩能中介内侧前额皮层(medial prefrontal cortex, MFC)的灰质体积和白质体积与幸福感的关联。这表明，内侧前额皮层是感恩影响幸福感的脑结构基础。总之，以上研究结果有助于建构和完善感恩影响幸福感的相关理论，并对于提升幸福感具有重要的实践意义。