Effects of Gratitude on the Well-being of Individuals on the Autism Spectrum

Gratitude interventions have shown increased satisfaction with life in research conducted on neurotypical individuals, positively impacting individuals physically, mentally, and socially. However, research on gratitude and neurodivergent individuals, such as those on the Autism spectrum, is limited, so the impact of gratitude for those on the spectrum has not been determined. This study will examine the impact of gratitude on the levels of anxiety, depression, and overall life satisfaction experienced by eight college-age individuals who self-identify as being on the Autism spectrum. Participants will engage in a two-week intervention, where they will respond to gratitude prompts daily sent through text messages. Participants will also participate in pre-intervention and post-intervention interviews where they will respond to five questions about gratitude and answer four scales: the Beck’s Depression Inventory, the Gratitude Questionnaire – Six Item Form, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Qualitative data will be analyzed through thematic analysis, while quantitative data will be analyzed through descriptive statistics. The gratitude intervention may increase subjective well-being and overall gratitude within participants. The gratitude intervention may decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression. The purpose of the study is to provide preliminary understanding on how gratitude affects the well-being of individuals on the Autism spectrum. The intention is for this topic to be researched extensively in the future so individuals on the spectrum are not underrepresented in gratitude research.