(PS10-49) Change in Perceived Burdensomeness Predicted by Guilt Feelings in a Gratitude Intervention

Given that perceived burdensomeness (PB) is associated with higher levels of depression and suicidality (Bell et al., 2018; Jahn et al., 2011; Van Orden et al., 2006) and has been identified as a mechanism of change in treatments that reduced suicide ideation (Lieberman et al., 2023), identifying factors associated with the development of PB may be helpful. Extant research suggests that one factor associated with PB is guilt (Levi-Belz & Ben-Yaish, 2022; Pedroso- Chaparro et al., 2021). Therefore, experiences that increase guilt may also increase PB. While many studies in recent years have explored the possibility that gratitude exercises can enhance well-being, including by alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression (e.g., Cregg & Cheavens, 2021), it is possible that gratitude exercises can also be associated with negative affect. For instance, gratitude exercises might sometimes create a sense of unwanted or “transactional” indebtedness (Nelson et al., 2023). Might gratitude exercises sometimes have an unintended effect of increasing guilt and thereby increase PB? To our knowledge, no studies have examined the effects of guilt on PB in the context of a gratitude intervention. To this end, this study sought to examine whether guilt is predictive of change in PB in a week-long daily diary gratitude intervention study. As part of a larger study, 99 undergraduate students were asked to write down three things they were grateful for each day for one week and then answer questions about their current mood state. Before and after the intervention, participants completed additional questionnaires including the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (Van Orden et al., 2012), a measure of PB and thwarted belongingness. A linear regression found that after controlling for initial PB, higher mean guilt scores while completing the gratitude intervention predicted significantly higher PB at the last visit (t(88)=2.56, p=.012). These results suggest that feelings of guilt while completing the gratitude exercise are associated with increased levels of PB at the end of the intervention. In contrast to research suggesting that gratitude interventions are uniformly beneficial for improving well-being, this research highlights that gratitude interventions may vary in their effects. Individuals prone to experiencing guilt may benefit less from some gratitude interventions compared to individuals who are less prone to experiencing guilt. Future studies should examine individuals’ experiences during gratitude interventions more extensively to elucidate the cognitive and affective processes that account for the association between feeling guilty and increased PB. Results suggest the potential benefit of modifying gratitude interventions for guilt-prone individuals to reduce the likelihood of activating feelings of guilt.