Gratitude in the Digital Age: The Effects of Experience Type and Expression Mode on Well-Being and Prosocial Intentions

Although prior research has established the effectiveness of gratitude interventions in fostering prosocial behavior, their application in digital contexts remains relatively underexplored. This study examined how experience type (gratitude vs. hassle) and expression mode (private, non-digital vs. shareable, digital) influence individual well-being and prosocial intentions. In a 2 × 2 between-subjects experimental design, 706 participants recruited from an online U.S. sample engaged in a brief reflective writing exercise based on recent experiences. Results showed that gratitude reflections significantly enhanced well-being outcomes; however, experience type did not affect prosocial intentions. In contrast, expression mode and its interaction with experience type significantly influenced prosocial behavior, suggesting that the mode of expression plays a key role. Linguistic content analysis further revealed that digital gratitude reflections were associated with more prosocial and socially oriented language. These findings highlight the potential of digital gratitude interventions as scalable, low-cost tools for enhancing psychological well-being and encouraging prosocial engagement in the post-pandemic era.