Grateful experiences and expressions: The role of gratitude expressions in the link between gratitude experiences and well-being

Research shows a consistent connection between the experience of gratitude and a variety of positive psychological, physical, and relational outcomes. Although this connection is largely traceable to the social meanings inherent to the experience and expression of gratitude, little is known about how such meanings are constructed via the process of communicating gratitude. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on gratitude experience and expression, and examine the connection between gratitude expression and human well-being. We also propose a topography of gratitude expressions and review several issues that research on the communication of gratitude should consider in future research.