Research to date has shown that HIV infection is a highly stressful experience for individuals, and one of the key adaptiveresources after such painful experiences may be forgiveness. The aim of the present study was to examine the associa-tions between dispositional forgiveness (assessed using Mullet’s Forgivingness Questionnaire and Toussaint’s ForgivenessScale), perceived stress (single-item measure of stress symptoms), health perception (EuroQol visual analogue version ofthe scale) and life satisfaction (Satisfaction With Life Scale) in people living with HIV (PLWH) in France. Paper surveyswere completed by 222 PLWH aged 18–78 (57% male). Multiple regression analysis revealed that sensitivity to circum-stances, unconditional forgiveness, self-forgiveness, and forgiveness of others were significant predictors of health andhappiness. Mediation analysis showed that these relationships are completely mediated by perceived stress. The presentfindings suggest that forgiveness and perceived stress may be important variables for healing in PLWH. Interventionsdesigned to improve forgiveness and self-forgiveness may result in improved health and life satisfaction in PLWH.

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