Students’ Lived Experiences of Gratitude: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Gratitude is a positive emotion that plays a significant role in adolescents’ psychological well-being. This study aims to explore the subjective experience of gratitude among adolescents using a phenomenological approach. Four adolescents from a public vocational high school in Kalimantan participated in in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was conducted based on the framework of emotionality, prosociality, and religiousness as the core factors shaping gratitude. Findings indicate that each participant’s sense of gratitude was influenced by their unique life circumstances, including social support, religious values, emotional experiences, and family conditions. This study highlights the importance of implementing positive emotion–based interventions in educational settings to promote adolescents’ well-being