New research suggests gifts that involve experiences, such as concert tickets or restaurant gift cards, can produce better health outcomes and more overall gratitude than material gifts.

Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor and co-author of the Cornell University report, says researchers studied 1,200 online customer reviews and found the vast majority of people who used the word "grateful" purchased experiences, not material items such as electronics or clothing.

"If you want to give a gift that really makes someone happy there's a lot of things to choose from," said Gilovich. "But again, think twice about maybe doing an experiential gift over a material one. It might pay off even more."

Gilovich adds the feeling of gratitude has been linked to increased happiness and social cohesion, better health outcomes and even improved sleep quality.

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