People who perceived God as a frequent gift giver are more inclined to attribute positive events to God and experience gratitude towards God, according to new research published in The Journal of Positive Psychology. The findings highlight the role of these interconnected beliefs in shaping one’s perception of God as a source of blessings and their subsequent feelings of gratitude.

Gratitude is a common emotional response to positive life events, and it has been consistently linked to positive mental health and well-being in previous studies. While gratitude is often directed towards specific benefactors, such as people who have provided benefits, some individuals also attribute positive events to God and experience gratitude towards God.

“I am interested in the types of thought processes that lead people to feel grateful to others, including God,” said study author Julie J. Exline, a psychology professor at Case Western Reserve University.