(PS12-C72) Is Forgiveness a Key to Well-being and Relationship Health?

Forgiveness has been studied in the context of intimate relationships and intimate partner violence (Crapolicchio et al., 2021; Gilbert & Gordon, 2017), often exploring forgiveness for transgressions like infidelity or abuse committed by a partner (Gordon et al., 2004; Olmstead et al., 2009). In the current study, however, the association between one’s ability to forgive others and their own perpetration of abuse against their partner was examined. Partner violence is a public health issue that warrants attention due to its high occurrence and its negative effects on the mental and physical health of victims (Campbell, 2002). Perpetrators commonly report that they use physical intimate partner violence in their relationships when they are angry or because they are retaliating for being emotionally hurt by their partners (Langhinrichsen-Rohling et al., 2012). Thus, examining the relationship between one’s ability to forgive others and one’s own perpetration of partner abuse is warranted. The purpose of the present study was to examine associations between one’s ability to forgive others and aspects of their own well-being and relationship health. The sample included 273 heterosexual adults (145 women and 128 men) ages 25 and older who were currently in romantic relationships lasting at least 6 months. Most participants were currently living with their partner. Participants were recruited from MTurk and completed an online survey that examined mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress) and relationship health (partner abuse and relationship satisfaction), and anger rumination symptoms including one’s difficulty forgiving others who have hurt them. The degree to which participants had difficulty forgiving others who have hurt them was significantly associated with higher levels of depression (r = .37, p < .001), anxiety (r = .26, p < .001), and stress (r = .43, p < .001); higher levels of perpetration of both physical (r = .21, p = .001) and cyber (r = .26, p < .001) forms of partner abuse; and lower levels of relationship satisfaction (r = -.23, p < .001). Thus, as we strive to help clients improve their well-being and their relationships, attention should be paid to the ability to forgive others. Forgiveness interventions have led to improvements in anger, depression, and anxiety (Luskin et al., 2005; Rapp et al., 2022; Wade et al., 2014). Some promising approaches to forgiveness therapy have included cognitive behavioral methods (Luskin et al., 2005) and psychoeducation (Allemand et al., 2013). Given the connections between difficulty forgiving others and the perpetration of partner violence found in the current study, future research examining forgiveness interventions in the context of partner violence prevention is warranted.