SAN DIEGO—Coworkers and teammates who thank each other before performing a high-stress task had a better cardiovascular response compared to teams that did not express gratitude, researchers from University of California–San Diego’s (UCSD) Rady School of Management found on June 1.
In their study, set to be published in an upcoming issue of Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, they found this cardiovascular response leads to increased concentration and more confidence which in turn can allow individuals to give their peak performance.
The study found gratitude can benefit people in “loose tie” relationships, such as coworkers. It also revealed that gratitude builds biological resources, promoting better stress responses, which can have long-term health impacts. Repeated exposure to stress is linked to cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, and weakened immunity….