Effects of forgiveness intervention on well-being and self-esteem in elder people

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of forgiveness intervention on improving the happiness index and self-esteem of the elderly. Methods Totally 103 cases who had been offended and did not relieved were enrolled in this research.Two groups were assigned using digital random method.There were 49 cases in the experimental group and 50 cases in the control group that were counted in final statistics according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.The experimental group received 8-week forgiveness therapy, control group received no special intervention. Results The scores of well-being, forgiving self, forgiving others and self-esteem respectively were 3.06±0.97, 3.23±0.62, 3.01±0.63 and 2.71±0.35 respectively.Forgiving others was positively related with well-being and self-esteem (r=0.296, 0.273, P 0.05). Forgiving others (t=5.309, P<0.01), self-esteem(t=2.732, P=0.008), well-being (t=2.732, P=0.008) in experimental group were improved after the intervention, but no difference was found in forgiving self (t=1.413, P=0.165). And there were significant difference in both main effect and interaction effect in forgiving others (Fmain=39.05, Pmain<0.01; Finter=34.96, Pinter<0.01), self-esteem (Fmain=26.41, Pmain<0.01; Finter=35.83, Pinter<0.01), well-being (Fmain=20.96, Pmain<0.01; Finter=18.06, Pinter<0.01) at the pre-test, post-test and 1 month after intervention in experimental group. In the control group, there was no significance in main effect (Fmain=1.98, Pmain=0.152), but the interaction effect was significantly different (Finter=10.98, Pinter<0.01). Conclusion Forgiveness intervention can improve forgiveness for elderly people.This intervention method has a positive effect on improving the overall happiness index and self-esteem of elderly people who have been subjected to other offenses, unfair treatment or interpersonal conflicts. Key words: Forgiveness; The elderly; Well-being index; Self-esteem