Can group interventions facilitate forgiveness of an ex-spouse? A randomized clinical trial.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of 2 versions of an 8-session forgiveness group intervention for divorced individuals. Participants (randomized, n=192; analyzed, n=149) were randomly assigned to a secular forgiveness condition, a religious forgiveness condition, or a no-intervention comparison condition. Measures of forgiveness and mental health were obtained at pretest, posttest, and 6-week follow-up. Participants in both intervention conditions increased significantly more than comparison participants on self-reported forgiveness of an ex-spouse and understanding of forgiveness. Participants in the secular condition showed a greater decrease in depressive symptoms than comparison participants. Intrinsic religiousness did not moderate intervention effects.
Rye
Mark S
MS
Department of Psychology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469-1430, USA. Mark.Rye@notes.udayton.edu
Pargament
Kenneth I
KI
Pan
Wei
W
Yingling
David W
DW
Shogren
Karrie A
KA
Ito
Masako
M
D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D003863:Depression; D004243:Divorce / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012932:Social Facilitation; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires