The Relationship Between Forgiveness and Health Outcomes Among People Living with HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study in France

Abstract

Research to date has shown that HIV infection is a highly stressful experience for individuals, and one of the key adaptive resources after such painful experiences may be forgiveness. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between dispositional forgiveness (assessed using Mullet’s Forgivingness Questionnaire and Toussaint’s Forgiveness Scale), perceived stress (single-item measure of stress symptoms), health perception (EuroQol visual analogue version of the scale) and life satisfaction (Satisfaction With Life Scale) in people living with HIV (PLWH) in France. Paper surveys were completed by 222 PLWH aged 18–78 (57% male). Multiple regression analysis revealed that sensitivity to circumstances, unconditional forgiveness, self-forgiveness, and forgiveness of others were significant predictors of health and happiness. Mediation analysis showed that these relationships are completely mediated by perceived stress. The present findings suggest that forgiveness and perceived stress may be important variables for healing in PLWH. Interventions designed to improve forgiveness and self-forgiveness may result in improved health and life satisfaction in PLWH.

A relational model of state of forgiveness and spirituality and their influence on well-being: A two-wave longitudinal study of women with a sexual assault history.

“…Previous research has extensively investigated the therapeutic effects of forgiveness on various matters, particularly emphasizing its connection to mental health (Long et al, 2020; Rasmussen et al, 2019; Toussaint et al, 2023; Webb et al, 2012). Notably, forgiveness plays a vital role in aiding victims to manage the emotional distress resulting from interpersonal offenses and acts as a protective factor against developing psychiatric disorders (Spiers, 2004).…”