Primárnym cieľom výskumnej štúdie bola kvalitatívna analýza pokračujúcich väzieb u žien po strate partnera. Ďalšími cieľmi bola analýza kvality vzťahu s partnerom pred stratou a analýza rituálov využívaných po strate. Výskumný súbor tvorilo 10 žien po strate partnera v období neskorej dospelosti až staroby. Vek participantiek sa pohyboval v rozmedzí od 56 do 83 rokov (M = 71,4 rokov; SD = 3,07), dĺžka vzťahu s partnerom sa pohybovala od 32 do 59 rokov (M = 46,9 rokov; SD = 8,6) a uplynulý čas od straty partnera sa pohyboval v rozmedzí od 9 mesiacov do 10 rokov, 4 mesiacov (M = 47,5 mesiaca; SD = 11,26). Údaje boli získané pološtrukturovanými rozhovormi, ktorých cieľom bolo hlbšie preskúmanie prežívania ovdovených participantiek. Na analýzu dát bola použitá metóda konsenzuálneho kvalitatívneho výskumu. Výsledkom analýzy údajov boli 3 domény: Formy pokračujúcich väzieb u vdov po strate partnera, Formy rituálov u vdov po strate partnera, Pozitívne a negatívne vnímané aspekty kvality vzťahu. Na základe získaných dát bol popísaný typický prípad prežívania väzieb k partnerovi u ovdovených žien. Formy pokračujúcich väzieb sú rôznorodé, môžu mať charakter pozitívnych, ambivalentných, ale aj negatívne prežívaných väzieb. Môžu byť pokračovaním rôznych aspektov vzťahu, ktorý existoval pred stratou, pričom ponúkajú nové možnosti, ktorými sa vzťah môže meniť alebo napredovať. Výsledky sú interpretované a diskutované s predchádzajúcimi výskumnými zisteniami.

Using a mixed‐methods approach, this study investigates forgiveness, the factors of forgiveness, and unforgivable acts, and analyzes relational and gender differences in participants' qualitative answers. Open‐ended questions were answered by 649 participants from Slovakia (532 dating, 117 married; 517 women, 132 men). Responses were analyzed qualitatively using the Consensual Qualitative Research‐Modified method, then transformed into quantitative data in order to statistically compare the groups. The results showed that dating individuals tended to see forgiveness as working on the relationship, whereas married individuals viewed forgiveness as an emotional process. Married individuals were more likely to report that shared commitments helped them to forgive. Dating partners tended to look at the situational context. Men were more likely to report that forgiveness was key to the relationship. When forgiving their partner, men focused on internal factors, whereas women needed an apology and acts of love. Infidelity was the most common unforgivable transgression. Therapists may benefit from a more nuanced understanding of forgiveness in dating and married individuals.

The primary goal of this research study was to qualitatively analyze perceptions of forgiveness and its meaning and application in counseling and therapy. The subgoals were to analyze psychological work with forgiveness in Slovak psychology practice, analyze the factors behind and consequences of forgiveness for clients and psychologists’ perceptions of their ability to forgive. The research sample consisted of 82 psychologists (71 women and 11 men) who had at least six months experience of working with adult clients. Participant age ranged from 24 to 67 years (M = 39.0 years; SD = 12.0) and number of years of psychological practice ranged from six months to 42 years (M = 13.2 years; SD = 12.2). Data were collected through questionnaires containing open-ended questions. We used Modified Consensual Qualitative Research (Spangler et al., 2012) to analyze the data obtained. Ten domains were created in the data analysis. Psychologists perceived forgiveness to be an intrapersonal process and an important part of counseling and therapy. Participants mainly stressed the cognitive qualities of forgiving, such as accepting and understanding the other person and the situation. The results show that working with forgiveness is widely applicable to relational and personal problems. The role of the psychologist in this process is to accompany, help, and support the client on their forgiveness journey, which ultimately leads to positive consequences, including improved mental and physical health, better relationships, relief, higher self-esteem, and self-acceptance.