Back to Resources

Measuring Forgiveness in Health-related Contexts

Charlotte V. O. Witvliet
Daryl R. Van Tongeren
Lindsey Root Luna
All your life you’re told forgiveness is for you. But we’re never told why it’s for you. It means you’re working on owning your life.
Shani Tran
Therapist and Founder, The Shani Project
Forgiveness is nothing less than the way we heal the world. We heal the world by healing each and every one of our hearts. The process is simple, but it is not easy.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Back to Resources

Measuring Forgiveness in Health-related Contexts

Charlotte V. O. Witvliet
Daryl R. Van Tongeren
Lindsey Root Luna
NO. of participants
Date
2015
Type of Evidence
Type of Paper
Theoretical/Conceptual/Review
Empiricism
open access
Yes
No
sample size

In this chapter, we review forgiveness measures for use within healthcare settings. Because forgiveness is multidimensional, and individuals can perceive various offenders, we differentiate between forgiveness of self, others, and the Sacred. First, we adopt a stress-and-coping framework to explore the association between forgiveness and health. Next, we examine forgiveness measures across the three domains (self, others, the Sacred) and their relation to health and healthcare settings. Finally, we recommend screening questions about pain related to blame of self, others, or the Sacred and whether the patient wishes to address this in their care. If so, we suggest state-scales that assess forgiveness of self (e.g., Wohl and Thompson, Br J Soc Psychol 50:354–364, 2011, plus questions of responsibility and reparative behavior per Fisher and Exline, Self Identity 5:127–146, 2006), another person (e.g., TRIM-18; McCullough et al, J Consult Clin Psychol 74:887–897, 2006), and the Sacred (e.g., Attitude Toward God Scale; Wood et al, Psychol Relig Spiritual 2:148–167, 2010). These state assessments can be re-administered to assess treatment.

Research
Non-Region Specific
Mental Health Professionals
Supporting Research
No items found.
Share this resource

Related Resources