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 Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 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
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
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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 Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 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
The UK spa review and discovery platform for consumers, the Good Spa Guide, has announced
it will host the Good Spa Guide Awards 2026 during an event on 16 November at Sopwell House
Hotel in St Albans, UK.
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this
percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of
Wellness 2026 research report.
Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of
a luxury resort by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
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.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
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