Forgiveness, Stress, and Health: a 5-Week Dynamic Parallel Process Study

Abstract

Background Psychological stress is a well-known risk factor for poor health, and recent research has suggested that the emotion-focused coping process of forgiveness may help mitigate these effects. To date, however, no studies have examined how levels of forgiveness, stress, and health fluctuate and interrelate over time. Purpose We addressed this issue by examining how forgiveness, stress, and mental and physical health symptoms change and relate to one another over 5 weeks. We hypothesized that increases in state levels of forgiveness would be associated with decreases in perceptions of stress, which would in turn be related to decreases in mental and physical health symptoms. A reverse effects model was also tested. Methods We recruited a large, community-based sample of 332 young, middle-aged, and older adults (16–79 years old; Mage = 27.9). Each week for 5 weeks, participants reported on their levels of state forgiveness, perceived stress, and mental and physical health symptoms. Results Levels of forgiveness, stress, and mental and physical health symptoms each showed significant change and individual variability in change over time. As hypothesized, increases in forgiveness were associated with decreases in stress, which were in turn related to decreases in mental (but not physical) health symptoms (i.e., forgiveness→ stress→ health). The reverse effects model (i.e., health → stress → forgiveness) provided a relatively poorer fit. Conclusions This study is the first to provide prospective, longitudinal evidence showing that greater forgiveness is associated with less stress and, in turn, better mental health. Strategies for cultivating forgiveness may thus have beneficial effects on stress and health.

German Soldiers' Needs to Clarify Open Aspects in Their Life, to Talk About Fears and Worries, and to Forgive and to Be Forgiven as a Matter of Life Reflection

“…However, for soldiers' needs to forgive others, the prediction model would point to stress perception as relevant variable, but the predictive power is much too weak to have much confidence in. Nevertheless, this is consistent with research showing connections between changes in stress and changes in forgiveness ( 38 ).…”

Efektivitas Pelatihan “Pede” (Pemaafan, Efikasi Diri, Dan Empati) Untuk Meningkatkan School Well-Being Siswa

“…Pemaafan diperlukan siswa dalam menghadapi kekurangan dan tekanan yang dirasakannya disekolah, baik dari dalam diri, orang lain maupun lingkungan. Hal tersebut terjadi karena pemaafan berhubungan dengan penurunan stress yang berujung pada penurunan tanda-tanda gangguan mental (Toussaint, Shields, & Slavich, 2016). Pemaafan di sekolah dapat meningkatkan school well-being siswa, karena menurut Rijavec, Jurcec, dan Olear (2013) pemaafan dapat meningkatkan well-being dengan mengantar individu mencapai kepuasan hidup yang lebih baik dan mengurangi perasaan negatif.…”

Life Stress and Health

“…The magnitude of this issue is compounded by the fact that less than one fourth of college students who require treatment for a mental health problem seek professional help (Blanco et al, 2008). These statistics may sound alarming, but the silver lining is that a majority of individuals who experience major life stressors do not get ill. Research has begun to identify cognitive and personality factors that may make individuals more resilient to stress (Crum et al, 2013; Shields, Young Kuchenbecker, Pressman, Sumida, & Slavich, 2016; Toussaint, Shields, & Slavich, in press). Additionally, a growing body of research is demonstrating that several psychological, cognitive, and behavioral interventions may help to improve individuals’ academic performance, stress-related biological reactivity, and mental and physical health (Black & Slavich, 2016; Free et al, 2013; Regehr, Glancy, & Pitts, 2013; Yeager & Walton, 2011).…”