Forgive, Let Go, and Stay Well! The Relationship between Forgiveness and Physical and Mental Health in Women and Men: The Mediating Role of Self-Consciousness

Justyna Mróz () and Kinga Kaleta
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Justyna Mróz: Department of Psychology, Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, 25-029 Kielce, Poland
Kinga Kaleta: Department of Psychology, Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, 25-029 Kielce, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 13, 1-16

Abstract: Background: The current study assessed forgiveness (positive forgiveness and reduced unforgiveness), self-consciousness (rumination and reflection), and physical and mental health. The aim of the study was to check if self-consciousness mediates the relationship between dispositional forgiveness and health. Methods: To address this link, we conducted 2 studies ( N = 484 in Study 1 and N = 249 in Study 2). Data were collected separately for Study 1, as well as Study 2. We used in both studies the Heartland Forgiveness Scale and the Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire, and additionally, the General Health Questionnaire-28 in Study 1 and the Scales of Psychological Well-Being in Study 2. Results: The results indicated that rumination was an effective mediator between positive forgiveness and mental health (B = 0.14, CI 95% = [0.064, 0.234]), reduced unforgiveness and physical health (B = ?0.13, CI 95% = [?0.182, ?0.088]), and both rumination and reflection between reduced unforgiveness and mental health (B = 0.13 CI 95% = [0.051, 0.226]), positive forgiveness (B = ?0.09 CI 95% = [?0.135, ?0.052]), and physical health. Conclusion: The mediating role of ruminations was more frequently observed in females. The study highlighted the indirect effect between forgiveness and health. Rumination and reflection are mediators between forgiveness and health.

Keywords: forgiveness; self-consciousness; rumination; mental health; physical health; gender differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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