Happy People Become Happier through Kindness: A Counting Kindnesses Intervention

Otake, Keiko; Shimai, Satoshi; Tanaka-Matsumi, Junko; Otsui, Kanako; Fredrickson, Barbara L.

doi:10.1007/s10902-005-3650-z

Cited by 545Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsAging and Gerontology Research

Happy People Become Happier through Kindness: A Counting Kindnesses Intervention

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Otake, Keiko, Shimai, Satoshi, Tanaka-Matsumi, Junko, Otsui, Kanako, Fredrickson, Barbara L.·2006·Journal of Happiness Studies

DOI 10.1007/s10902-005-3650-zPMC PMC1820947

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Abstract

We examined the relationship between the character strength of kindness and subjective happiness (Study 1), and the effects of a counting kindnesses intervention on subjective happiness (Study 2). In Study 1, participants were 175 Japanese undergraduate students and in Study 2, participants were 119 Japanese women (71 in the intervention group and 48 in the control group). Results showed that: (a) Happy people scored higher on their motivation to perform, and their recognition and enactment of kind behaviors. (b) Happy people have more happy memories in daily life in terms of both quantity and quality. (c) Subjective happiness was increased simply by counting one's own acts of kindness for one week. (d) Happy people became more kind and grateful through the counting kindnesses intervention. Discussion centers on the importance of kindness in producing subjective happiness.

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Authors: Otake, K., Shimai, S., Tanaka-Matsumi, J., Otsui, K., & Fredrickson, B. L.
Affiliations: Tohoku Gakuin University (JP)
Kobe College (JP)
Kwansei Gakuin University (JP)
University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author: Otake, Keiko
ORCID: Otake, Keiko
Shimai, Satoshi
Fredrickson, Barbara L.
Venue: Journal of Happiness Studies
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2006-09
Volume: 7
Issue: 3
Pages: 361-375
ISSN: 1389-4978 (ISSN-L)
1573-7780
DOI: 10.1007/s10902-005-3650-z
PMC: PMC1820947
OpenAlex: W2138186842
Cited by: 545
References: 6
Citations by year: 2026: 16 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 42 · 2015: 44 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 32
FWCI: 12.51
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Happiness Studies (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH059615)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords: kindness, character strengths, subjective happiness, gratitude, positive psychology interventions

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Happy People Become Happier through Kindness: A Counting Kindnesses Intervention

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