Offense-specific Forgiveness Research Articles

Assessment of forgiveness in couple relationships: Adaptation of the Marital Offense-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS) to a Spanish sample.

Forgiveness plays an important role in couple relationships, as it is essential in overcoming interpersonal offenses and related to the well-being of the relationship. To date, no valid instruments are available for Spanish populations to evaluate forgiveness within marital relationships. This study aims to adapt and evaluate the Marital Offense-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS), comparing the behavior of the scale in two cultural contexts: Spain and the United States. Two studies were conducted: the first with 389 participants to evaluate the behavior of the scale and to explore the dimensionality of the Spanish version of the MOFS using exploratory factor analysis (EFA); the second study used a sample of 361 Spanish and 119 American participants, conducting a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and an invariance factor analysis. The EFA revealed two factors: Avoidance-Resentment and Benevolence. Using CFA, the factorial structure of the MOFS was confirmed, with results indicating that the proposed model presents a similar fit to the original version.

Relationship Between Body Image, Marital Offense-Specific Forgiveness, and Marital Happiness in Urban and Rural Married Women Aged 20 - 35

Background: Identifying the main factors that affect body image (BI) is of utmost importance within the realm of marital relationships. In light of this, the present study investigated the relationship between BI, marital offense-specific forgiveness (MOF), and marital happiness (MH) among married women aged 20 - 35, living in urban and rural areas in the city of Jahrom, Fars Province, Iran. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 608 married women aged 20 - 35, residing in urban and rural areas and referring to the comprehensive community health centers in the city of Jahrom, Fars province, Iran, selected by stratified-cluster sampling. For this purpose, the statistical population was divided into two groups, viz., the urban and rural women, and sampling was done in keeping with their population. The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), the Marital Happiness Scale (MHS), and the Marital Offense-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS) were further applied to collect the data, which were then analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 25 software package. Results: Comparing the MHS mean scores showed a statistically significant difference between urban and rural women (P < 0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant difference was observed in the BI mean scores of the study groups, particularly in the appearance evaluation (AE) subscale (P < 0.001). The regression analysis results also demonstrated that MH could affect BI (P < 0.001) Conclusions: The study results revealed that MH and MOF could lead to a positive BI in married women.

How do I pardon thee?: The effects of relationship type, account type, and gender on offence-specific forgiveness

How do I pardon thee?: The effects of relationship type, account type, and gender on offence-specific forgiveness

Doctrine-Shaped Trait Forgiveness and Relationship Satisfaction in People who Identify as Christians — A Multiple Mediation Analysis

Despite increasing attention to the study of forgiveness, little consideration has been imparted to the act of forgiving as a religiously shaped path towards relationship satisfaction. This study examines (1) whether a person’s doctrine-shaped trait forgiveness (DTF) is positively associated with relationship satisfaction; and (2) whether two dimensions of offense-specific forgiveness — benevolence and resentment–avoidance — mediate this association. Using structural equation modeling, we analyzed cross-sectional data of an adult German sample (N = 980), all of whom stated their affiliation to a Christian church. The analysis of the non-mediator model indicated a positive direct path between DTF and relationship satisfaction (β = 0.123). Computing the mediation effects, we found a significant, positive total effect of DTF on relationship satisfaction (β = 0.129). Our findings suggest indirect paths between DTF and relationship satisfaction through resentment–avoidance (β = 0.074) and benevolence (β = 0.021). Neither gender nor denomination effects emerged within the invariance analyses. The results supported the assumption that individuals with a higher level of DTF also experience greater satisfaction in their intimate relationships, by engaging in less resentful and avoidant as well as more benevolent behavior.

Forgiveness in Marriage: From Incidents to Marital Satisfaction

Although marital forgiveness has been found to increase marital satisfaction, no research to date has examined the actual mechanism. This could derive from the ABCM model of marital satisfaction (Hall, 2021), in which disposition to forgive is understood as one of the marriage maintenance strategies contributing to spousal happiness. In two cross-sectional studies, we examined the association between marital forgiveness and satisfaction. We also tested a model in which dispositional forgiveness mediates the link between forgiveness of a particular marital incident and satisfaction with spousal relationship, moderated by transgression severity and apology. The Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale, the Heartland Forgiveness Scale and measures of marital satisfaction were used. Positive main effects between forgiveness and multidimensional marital satisfaction emerged. Moderated mediation revealed the mediation effect of dispositional forgiveness, which did not depend on the level of the moderators (severity and apology).

IMPACT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER ON MARITAL SATISFACTION – A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Objectives: To compare marital satisfaction among patients with Schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 1 month. The sample was chosen by using purposive random sampling, 60 married patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Affective Disorder who fulfilled the ICD 10 criteria for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Affective Disorder, respectively, under remission with Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) score ≤2, and were assessed for Marital Satisfaction with The Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI) and its relationship with forgiveness is studied with the Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS). Results: Compared to patients with Bipolar Affective Disorder, patients with Schizophrenia reported poor marital satisfaction. Conclusion: It is the first study in India to compare marital satisfaction in patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Affective Disorder. The present study suggests that marital satisfaction is more impaired in Schizophrenia patients compared to bipolar affective disorder patients.

How secure and preoccupied attachment relate to offence-specific forgiveness in couples

Attachment is important for pro-relationship behavior. Past research has suggested that anxious and avoidant attachment makes people less likely to forgive, but dyadic effects of secure and preoccupied attachment have not been considered. We tested actor and partner effects of attachment on forgiveness (increased benevolence; decreased resentment) in heterosexual couples. Actor-partner-interdependence models showed that actors’ secure attachment was positively associated with their own and with their partners’ forgiveness. Preoccupied attachment was positively related to forgiveness for actors but unrelated to partners’ forgiveness. Similarity in attachment was independent from forgiveness. Attachment thus allows for a better understanding of why two people involved in a relationship might or might not forgive each other after transgressions.

Investigation of Marital Satisfaction in terms of Proactive Personality, Meaning in Life, Offense-Specific Forgiveness

This research aimed to investigate marital satisfaction with respect to proactive personality, meaning in life, and offense-specific forgiveness in marriage. Research data were collected from 350 married using the, Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS), Satisfaction with Married Life Scale, Proactive Personality Scale, and Meaning in Life Questionnaire. The data were analyzed with regressionand Pearson correlation coefficient to test the hypotheses of this research. The results showed that there is a positive correlation between marital satisfaction and meaning in life and proactive personality. It is also concluded that there is a negative correlation between marital satisfaction and resentment-avoidance, one of the sub-dimensions of offense-specific forgiveness in marriage. According to the regression analysis in the study, proactive personality, meaning in life, and resentment-avoidance variables, which are sub-dimensions of offense-specific forgiveness in marriage, were found to predict marital satisfaction significantly.

Marital offence-specific forgiveness as mediator in the relationships between personality traits and marital satisfaction among older couples: Perspectives on Lars Tornstam's theory of gerotranscendence

AbstractAs a result of the gerotranscendence process, marital satisfaction becomes especially important in old age. At the same time, researchers emphasise that the effect of seniors’ personality on their marital satisfaction depends on many mediators. The analysis of literature suggests that one such variable might be forgiveness. Thus, the aim of the present research was to investigate whether forgiveness mediates the relationship between personality traits and marital satisfaction in late adulthood. The study involved 315 participants aged 60–75. Three psychological methods were used: (a) the Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire for Older Persons; (b) the NEO-Five Factor Inventory; and (c) the Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale. The analyses that have been undertaken revealed a number of significant associations. Neuroticism was positively related to resentment-avoidance and negatively to benevolence and marital satisfaction, whereas extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively correlated with resentment and positively with benevolence and satisfaction. The results also showed that both dimensions of dyadic forgiveness mediated the relationships between personality traits and marital satisfaction in ageing persons. They suggest that forgiveness of a spouse, when enhanced, could work as a buffer against the negative impact of neuroticism on marital happiness, as well as allowing the transfer of positive aspects of extraverted, agreeable and conscientious tendencies into marriage. Practical implications of the study for counselling older adults are recommended.

Factorial Invariance of the German Version of the Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS)

Abstract. Spousal forgiveness is positively linked to aspects of relationship satisfaction, as well as to the physical and psychological health of both partners. Oftentimes, the respective values for men and women are compared under the untested assumption of measurement invariance of the assessment tool. In order to investigate the factorial invariance (configural, metric, scalar, and residual) of the German version of the Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS; Paleari et al., 2009 ), we conducted several multigroup confirmatory factor analyses. In the context of comparing increasingly stringent models, tests of measurement invariance indicated at least partial measurement invariance. These findings suggest that the MOFS operates in a similar fashion among men and women, thus supporting the assessment of spousal forgiveness with the German MOFS.

Conditional or Unconditional Forgiveness? An Instrument to Measure the Conditionality of Forgiveness

ABSTRACTAmong the beliefs and concepts people hold about the nature of forgiveness, their notions of conditionality and unconditionality have not received sufficient study. The concept of conditional forgiveness posits that before forgiveness can be granted, the offender must take certain steps and meet specific conditions. From an unconditional forgiveness concept, the victim can forgive independently of the behavior of the wrongdoer. Hence, the aim of our study has been to develop a strong psychometric instrument to measure the beliefs people hold about the conditionality of forgiveness. This article presents the development and validation of a tool to measure these beliefs. Study 1 comprised 181 participants, whereas 492 conformed Study 2 and 109 took part in Study 3. Internal consistency and validity were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted, along with correlational analysis to test convergent validity, stability, and prediction capability. Results show a two-dimensional structure of the Conditional–Unconditional Forgiveness Scale, indicating the appropriateness of this tool to assess beliefs about the conditionality of forgiveness. The belief in the unconditional nature of forgiveness showed positive and significant correlations with all the measurements of offense-specific forgiveness. On the other hand, the belief that forgiveness should be conditional showed lower correlations with all the forgiveness measurements. Not only the ultimate level of forgiveness the subjects experienced but also their emotional experience of the process can be very different depending on their views of forgiveness, among them their beliefs about conditionality.

Adaptation of the Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale for Use in a Turkish Cultural Context

I tested the dimensionality, reliability, and convergent validity of the Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS) with a sample of 158 married Turkish couples. The MOFS consists of 10 items used to elicit 2 dimensions, namely, resentment–avoidance and benevolence, and is designed to measure forgiveness regarding any offense, wrongdoing, or sin committed in a marital context. To test the factorial structure of the scale, confirmatory factor analysis was used. The psychometric features of the MOFS support its applicability to research conducted within the Turkish cultural context.

Measuring offence-specific forgiveness in marriage: The Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS).

Three studies involving 328 married couples were conducted to validate the Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale, a new measure assessing offence-specific forgiveness for marital transgressions. The studies examined the dimensionality; internal consistency; and discriminant, concurrent, and predictive validity of the new measure. The final scale comprised 2 distinct correlated dimensions, 1 positive (Benevolence) and 1 negative (Resentment-Avoidance), both of which had adequate internal consistency. The 2 dimensions discriminated marital forgiveness from affective empathy, rumination, attributions, and marital quality. Convergent validity of the new scale was indicated by significant relationships between its underlying dimensions and a host of predicted sociocognitive, relationship, trait, and well-being correlates of forgiveness. Providing evidence for predictive validity, forgiveness dimensions accounted for variability in relationship variables over a 6-month period.

The Relationship of Offense-Specific Forgiveness to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in College Students

ABSTRACT The relationship between offense-specific forgiveness and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was examined in a cross-sectional survey of 178 college students reporting interpersonal trauma exposure, that is, a trauma exposure in which they identified a specific perpetrator. Higher levels of offense-specific forgiveness were significantly related to lower levels of PTSD symptoms. In path analyses, however, when gender and offense severity were allowed to directly predict both forgiveness and PTSD symptoms, the relationship was reduced to marginal significance. Exploratory analyses revealed that within the five most-commonly endorsed trauma subtypes, the relationship between forgiveness and PTSD symptoms may differ in strength and direction as a function of trauma type. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.

Effects of a group forgiveness intervention on forgiveness, perceived stress, and trait‐anger

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 6-week forgiveness intervention on three outcomes: (a) offense-specific forgiveness, (b) forgiveness-likelihood in new situations, and (c) health-related psychosocial variables, such as perceived stress and trait-anger. Participants were 259 adults who had experienced a hurtful interpersonal transgression from which they still felt negative consequences. They were randomized to a forgiveness-training program or a no-treatment control group. The intervention reduced negative thoughts and feelings about the target transgression 2 to 3 times more effectively than the control condition, and it produced significantly greater increases in positive thoughts and feelings toward the transgressor. Significant treatment effects were also found for forgiveness self-efficacy, forgiveness generalized to new situations, perceived stress, and trait-anger.