CAN FORGIVENESS MARITAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME (FMEP) REDUCE MARITAL CONFLICT AND AUGMENT SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF MARRIED COUPLES?

Abstract

This study examines the effect of the Forgiveness Marital Enhancement Programme (FMEP) on couples with Marital Conflict (MC) in their intimate dyadic relationships via an experimental design. It was hypothesized that conscious, intentional daily awareness and expression of forgiveness would produce a significant decrease in marital conflict and an increase in Subjective Well-being (SWB). Seventy-six participants were randomly assigned to either experimental or control groups. The experimental group alone was asked to complete a 50-day FMEP. All participants answered the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (2005), Marital Conflict Scale (1985) and Subjective Well-Being Inventory (SUBI, 1994) before and after the FMEP, and at a follow-up test after two months. Differences between control and interventional groups were analysed via independent samples t-tests and changes across testing phases within groups were evaluated via Repeated Measures of ANOVA. Between-group and within-group analyses indicated that participation in the FMEP resulted in a reduction in Marital Conflict and enhancement in Subjective Well-being of married couples. KEYWORDS: Forgiveness, Marital Conflict, Subjective Well-being, Forgiveness Marital Enhancement Programme (FMEP), Intimate/dyadic Relationships