The interplay of forgiveness by God and self-forgiveness: a longitudinal study of moderating effects on stress overload in a religious Canadian sample

Abstract

Background A consistent link between self-forgiveness and well-being has been established, yet a full understanding of self-forgiveness and its correlates, particularly in relation to forgiveness by God, remains limited, especially given that most existing data are cross-sectional. This study sought to address this gap by investigating the interplay between self-forgiveness and perceived forgiveness by God in reducing stress overload among religious individuals over time. Methods This study involved 211 religious individuals in Canada, 55% of whom were female. Through multilevel analyses, the research examined the between-person, within-person, and cross-level effects of these forms of forgiveness on stress across three waves conducted over a total 12-month period. Results The findings suggested that the effectiveness of self-forgiveness in mitigating stress may be significantly influenced by the perception of forgiveness by God, with the greatest stress reduction occurring when forgiveness by God was perceived at higher levels. Conclusions These findings highlight the potential value of incorporating spiritual dimensions into psychological approaches to stress management, offering insights into the complex relationships between different forms of forgiveness and their impact on mental health of religious individuals. Future research is encouraged to further explore these dynamics across diverse cultural and religious contexts.