Objective: The aim of
this study was to investigate pregnant women’s subjective experiences of
gratitude. Subjective gratitude has yet to be fully examined, particularly
during transitional life periods, such as pregnancy.
Method: Five
pregnant women completed a month-long gratitude diary intervention by listing
up to 5 things they felt grateful for daily. At the end of the study
participants emailed diary entries to the researcher for analysis.
Results: Thematic
analysis was conducted on 43 diary entries. This identified 7 themes: (1) being
pregnant (2) feeling and seeing the baby; (3) baby as a person; (4) medical
experiences; (5) support from friends and family; (6) daily life; (7) looking
ahead.
Conclusion: This study suggests that
during pregnancy, gratitude can arise from both general and pregnancy-specific
sources. It is necessary for future research to consider the multifaceted
nature of gratitude during this specific transitional life period.