Rates of Social Connectedness, Social Sensitivity, Positive Emotions, and Gratitude in Panhellenic Women (2013)

Undergraduate: Kandace Thomas

Faculty Advisor: Barbara Fredrickson
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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The National Panhellenic Conference is made of 26 organizations that form social relationships through membership in sorority chapters which influence more than 4 million women. This study investigated well-being among Panhellenic sorority women and non-Panhellenic sorority women at a large south-eastern university. The study hypothesized that Panhellenic sorority women would have higher rates of social connectedness, social sensitivity, gratitude, and positive emotions than non-Panhellenic sorority women. Panhellenic sorority women (n=48) and non-Panhellenic sorority women (n=55) completed the Reading the Mind through the Eyes, a gratitude letter, and self-reported surveys that assessed their levels of social connectedness, social sensitivity, gratitude, and positive emotions. The findings suggest Panhellenic sorority women have higher rates of social sensitivity and feel more integrated to their environment than non-Panhellenic sorority women.