Thankful Thinking: A Thematic Analysis of Gratitude Letters by Mothers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly report elevated levels of stress and psychopathology compared to mothers of typically developing children. However, there is an expanding area of research which focuses on factors that promote positive adaptation among mothers of children with ASD. Gratitude is one factor associated with positive outcomes in the general population and may therefore, also be associated with positive outcomes for mothers of children with ASD. Method: In this qualitative study, mothers of children with ASD were divided into two groups and instructed to write letters of gratitude to either someone besides their child (general gratitude) or their child (child gratitude). Coding and thematic analysis of their narratives was conducted using ATLAS.ti computer software. Results: Prominent themes for mothers in the general gratitude group included sources of social support, characteristics of close personal relationships, inspirational others, and other positive attributes of individuals, such as being kind-hearted. Whereas, in the child gratitude group, emergent themes were the child with ASD making progress, the child’s personality, inspiration, and shared experiences. Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that mothers are able to identify and express gratitude for beneficial aspects of their lives. These findings have important implications for the understanding of the experience of parenting a child with ASD and may also serve to inform development of interventions to promote well-being in families of children with ASD.