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Cited by 257Forgiveness and Related BehaviorsMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Forgiveness Therapy for the Promotion of Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Akhtar, Sadaf, Barlow, Jane·2018·Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
DOI 10.1177/1524838016637079
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Abstract

Interpersonal hurts and violence against the individual have a high prevalence and are associated with a range of long-term problems in terms of psychological functioning. There is a growing body of research highlighting the role of forgiveness therapy in improving different aspects of psychological health in populations who have experienced diverse types of hurt, violence, or trauma. This article reports the findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of process-based forgiveness interventions among samples of adolescents and adults who had experienced a range of sources of hurt or violence against them. Randomized controlled trials were retrieved using electronic databases and an examination of reference sections of previous reviews; each study was assessed for risk of bias. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess treatment effects. The results suggest that forgiveness interventions are effective in reducing depression (SMD = −0.37, 95% CI [−0.68, −0.07]), anger and hostility (SMD = −0.49, 95% CI [−0.77, −0.22]), and stress and distress (SMD = −0.66, 95% CI [−0.91, −0.41]) and in promoting positive affect (SMD = −0.29, 95% CI [−0.52, −0.06]). There was also evidence of improvements in state (SMD = −0.55, 95% CI [−0.88, −0.21) and trait (SMD = −0.43, 95% CI [−0.67, −0.20]) forgiveness. The findings provide moderately strong evidence to suggest that forgiving a variety of real-life interpersonal offenses can be effective in promoting different dimensions of mental well-being. Further research is, however, needed.

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. DiBlasio F. A., 2002, Marriage & Family: A Christian Journal, 5, 511
  2. Luskin F. M., 2005, Humboldt Journal of Social Relations, 29, 163
  3. 10.53841/bpscpr.2005.20.1.26 · DOI
  4. Worthington E. L., 2001, Five steps to forgiveness: The art and science of forgiving

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Authors
Akhtar, S., & Barlow, J.
Affiliations
University of Warwick (GB)
Corresponding author
Akhtar, Sadaf
ORCID
Barlow, Jane
Venue
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2016-03-23
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
107-122
ISSN
  • 1524-8380 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-8324
DOI
10.1177/1524838016637079
OpenAlex
W2311701971
Semantic Scholar
0bab0ad0ff97e0d9546f12752a4c4b5708d38301
Cited by
257
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 80 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 4
FWCI
2.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Trauma Violence & Abuse (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Forgiveness and Related Behaviors
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
forgiveness therapy, psychological well-being, depression, anger-hostility, positive affect, forgiveness, trauma, adolescents, adults
MeSH terms
Exposure to Violence, Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Counseling, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Case-Control Studies, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Young Adult, Forgiveness

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