A single expression of gratitude can help team members manage stress / Photo: Cast Of Thousands/ shutterstock
Arecent study into the physiological and biological benefits for teams of displays of gratitude has shown they prompt an enhanced cardiovascular response that can lead to increased concentration and confidence, allowing individuals within the team to give their peak performance.
The study, carried out by researchers at the University of California San Diego’s Rady School of Management, was based on a sample of 200 university students who spent time with each other but did not have intimate relationships.
The students were paired in teams to replicate workplace colleagues and given six minutes to create a campus bicycle marketing pitch to present to a panel of judges, in a contest inspired by the format of the TV show, Shark Tank.
Participants wore electrodes on their neck and torso to enable researchers to measure their physiological responses through electrocardiography and impedance cardiography signals. Their blood pressure was also monitored through an arm cuff.
During the study, some teams were asked to express gratitude to their colleague and their biological responses were compared to those teams that did not thank each other during the task.
Commenting on the study, which is due to be published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, Christopher Oveis, general and associate professor of economics and strategy at the Rady School of Management, and senior author of the study, said: “The experiment was designed to create a highly stressful environment, so we could gauge how gratitude shapes stress response during teamworking.
“When carrying out high-stakes performance tasks, some people rise to the challenge and have an efficient cardiovascular response, known as a challenge response: the heart pumps more blood, the vasculature dilates, blood gets to the periphery, oxygenated blood gets to the brain and cognition fires on all cylinders. Other people, however, have a threat response: the heart pumps less blood, the vasculature constricts, blood flow to the periphery is reduced and performance goes down.”
The study found that a single expression of gratitude from a teammate pushed their partner towards adaptive, performance-orientated biological challenge responses. “Gratitude within work environments may be key to managing our stress responses,” Oveis said. “We can make our stress responses fuel performance instead of harming it.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2022 issue 2
Editor's letter: The wellness metaverse
We’re being handed a powerful new tool that will become a channel for creativity and innovation – pioneering wellness operators are already getting to grips with its exciting potential
Spa People: Michael Stusser
The wellness pioneer explains how he created an authentic Japanese bathing experience in the heart of the California hills
Spa People: Scot Toon
The Asia MD of The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts unveils the company's latest island development plans
Project preview: Off-grid
Svart Six Senses is set to open in Norway in 2024, and redefine the meaning of sustainable wellness tourism and regenerative travel
Sponsored: Myrtha Wellness: watertight expertise
Myrtha has transformed the world of aquatics over the last 60 years. Now it’s bringing its ingenuity-driven expertise to the international wellness industry
Interview: Rainer Usselmann
Tech business Happy Finish is bringing metaverse-based experiences to the wellness sector, working with Wund
Everyone's talking about: Menopause
From taboo to hot topic – how can spas offer treatments and a safe space for women to explore this often challenging phase of life?
Research: Bounceback
PwC says the US spa market was worth US$1bn in 2021 and growing well, according to data from ISPA's latest industry-wide study
First person: An icon reborn
Fairmont unveils the stunning renovation of its iconic Century Plaza hotel in LA, and Rianna Riego checks out the new spa
Q&A: Magdaleena Nikolov
The GM of spa, wellness and retail at Fairmont
Century Plaza talks to Jane Kitchen
Q&A: Mia Kyricos
The wellness leader talks about the creation of her new trademarked framework for the development and delivery of wellness interventions
Sponsored: Art of Cryo: raising the bar
Art of Cryo is complementing its high
performance cryotherapy range with advanced
new technology to enhance treatment benefits
Mystery Shopper: The Londoner
Our reviewer travels undercover to check out the spa offering at The Londoner – one of the most high profile openings in the capital in recent times
A single expression of gratitude can help team members manage stress / Photo: Cast Of Thousands/ shutterstock
Arecent study into the physiological and biological benefits for teams of displays of gratitude has shown they prompt an enhanced cardiovascular response that can lead to increased concentration and confidence, allowing individuals within the team to give their peak performance.
The study, carried out by researchers at the University of California San Diego’s Rady School of Management, was based on a sample of 200 university students who spent time with each other but did not have intimate relationships.
The students were paired in teams to replicate workplace colleagues and given six minutes to create a campus bicycle marketing pitch to present to a panel of judges, in a contest inspired by the format of the TV show, Shark Tank.
Participants wore electrodes on their neck and torso to enable researchers to measure their physiological responses through electrocardiography and impedance cardiography signals. Their blood pressure was also monitored through an arm cuff.
During the study, some teams were asked to express gratitude to their colleague and their biological responses were compared to those teams that did not thank each other during the task.
Commenting on the study, which is due to be published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, Christopher Oveis, general and associate professor of economics and strategy at the Rady School of Management, and senior author of the study, said: “The experiment was designed to create a highly stressful environment, so we could gauge how gratitude shapes stress response during teamworking.
“When carrying out high-stakes performance tasks, some people rise to the challenge and have an efficient cardiovascular response, known as a challenge response: the heart pumps more blood, the vasculature dilates, blood gets to the periphery, oxygenated blood gets to the brain and cognition fires on all cylinders. Other people, however, have a threat response: the heart pumps less blood, the vasculature constricts, blood flow to the periphery is reduced and performance goes down.”
The study found that a single expression of gratitude from a teammate pushed their partner towards adaptive, performance-orientated biological challenge responses. “Gratitude within work environments may be key to managing our stress responses,” Oveis said. “We can make our stress responses fuel performance instead of harming it.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2022 issue 2
Editor's letter: The wellness metaverse
We’re being handed a powerful new tool that will become a channel for creativity and innovation – pioneering wellness operators are already getting to grips with its exciting potential
Spa People: Michael Stusser
The wellness pioneer explains how he created an authentic Japanese bathing experience in the heart of the California hills
Spa People: Scot Toon
The Asia MD of The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts unveils the company's latest island development plans
Project preview: Off-grid
Svart Six Senses is set to open in Norway in 2024, and redefine the meaning of sustainable wellness tourism and regenerative travel
Sponsored: Myrtha Wellness: watertight expertise
Myrtha has transformed the world of aquatics over the last 60 years. Now it’s bringing its ingenuity-driven expertise to the international wellness industry
Interview: Rainer Usselmann
Tech business Happy Finish is bringing metaverse-based experiences to the wellness sector, working with Wund
Everyone's talking about: Menopause
From taboo to hot topic – how can spas offer treatments and a safe space for women to explore this often challenging phase of life?
Research: Bounceback
PwC says the US spa market was worth US$1bn in 2021 and growing well, according to data from ISPA's latest industry-wide study
First person: An icon reborn
Fairmont unveils the stunning renovation of its iconic Century Plaza hotel in LA, and Rianna Riego checks out the new spa
Q&A: Magdaleena Nikolov
The GM of spa, wellness and retail at Fairmont
Century Plaza talks to Jane Kitchen
Q&A: Mia Kyricos
The wellness leader talks about the creation of her new trademarked framework for the development and delivery of wellness interventions
Sponsored: Art of Cryo: raising the bar
Art of Cryo is complementing its high
performance cryotherapy range with advanced
new technology to enhance treatment benefits
Mystery Shopper: The Londoner
Our reviewer travels undercover to check out the spa offering at The Londoner – one of the most high profile openings in the capital in recent times
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
+ More news
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