title: Self-forgiveness, shame, and guilt in recovery from drug and alcohol problems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People with drug and/or alcohol problems often experience feelings of shame and guilt, which have been associated with poorer recovery. Self-forgiveness has the potential to reduce these negative experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study tested theorized mediators (acceptance, conciliatory behavior, empathy) of the relationships between shame and guilt with self-forgiveness. A cross-sectional sample of 133 individuals (74.4% male) receiving residential treatment for substance abuse completed self-report measures of shame, guilt, self-forgiveness, and the mediators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consistent with previous research, guilt had a positive association with self-forgiveness, whereas shame was negatively associated with self-forgiveness. Acceptance mediated the guilt and self-forgiveness relationship and had an indirect effect on the shame and self-forgiveness relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings emphasize the importance of targeting acceptance when trying to reduce the effects of shame and guilt on self-forgiveness.
authors.affiliation: a Illawarra Institute for Mental Health and School of Psychology , University of Wollongong , Wollongong , New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Breanna J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McGaffin
authors.forename: Geoffrey C B
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Deane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D061347:Forgiveness; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057566:Self Report; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012752:Shame; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*