Article

Forgiveness is associated with a variety of health-related outcomes;
however much of this work has been in the context of forgiveness of others,
direct associations and otherwise healthy samples. This study examined
associations involving multiple dimensions of forgiveness, including indirect
effects through health behavior, among outpatients receiving physical therapy.
METHODS: Participants from southern Appalachia (n = 141) completed
cross-sectional self-report measures of forgiveness, lifetime religiousness,
health behavior, health status and pain. Mediation analysis was employed to
examine the direct and indirect relationships between forgiveness and health.
RESULTS: Forgiveness of self was associated with: (i) overall health status,
physical health status and current pain in an indirect-only fashion and (ii)
mental health status and chronic pain in a direct-only fashion. Feeling forgiven
by God was associated with health-related social functioning in a direct-only
fashion. Forgiveness of others was not associated with the health-related
outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Forgiveness of self appears to be the most important to
health, yet the most difficult to achieve. Religious culture may influence
whether feeling forgiven by God is also important. Forgiveness-based intervention
may be useful in the context of rehabilitation, in general, and physical therapy,
in particular.

Langue : ANGLAIS