Is gratitude science inclusive? A scoping review on gratitude in individuals with diverse needs and exceptionalities

Abstract

Past meta-analytic, systematic and narrative reviews have painted a highly optimistic backdrop on the psychological, physical and social rewards associated with gratitude. However, as most of these reviews focused on how gratitude facilitates optimal psychological functioning in typically developing samples, question remains on the extent to which these findings are generalizable to individuals with diverse special needs or disabilities. This scoping review aims to map scholarly evidence on the psychological benefits of gratitude in individuals with various special needs and exceptionalities. Most studies relied on the dispositional gratitude model (~59%) and cross-sectional designs (~75%) in investigating gratitude in people with diverse needs. Majority of empirical investigations also focused on studying gratitude in Western cultural contexts such as the United States. Further, prior studies showed that gratitude increased positively valenced well-being outcomes. Future theoretical implications and scholarly directions are charted.