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Behrens, Carolin; Kliem, Sören; Kröger, Christoph

Doctrine-Shaped Trait Forgiveness and Relationship Satisfaction in People who Identify as Christians — A Multiple Mediation Analysis

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  • Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Doctrine-Shaped Trait Forgiveness and Relationship Satisfaction in People who Identify as Christians — A Multiple Mediation Analysis
  • Contributor: Behrens, Carolin; Kliem, Sören; Kröger, Christoph
  • imprint: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024
  • Published in: International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1007/s41042-023-00113-6
  • ISSN: 2364-5040; 2364-5059
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Despite increasing attention to the study of forgiveness, little consideration has been imparted to the act of forgiving as a religiously shaped path towards relationship satisfaction. This study examines (1) whether a person’s doctrine-shaped trait forgiveness (DTF) is positively associated with relationship satisfaction; and (2) whether two dimensions of offense-specific forgiveness — benevolence and resentment–avoidance — mediate this association. Using structural equation modeling, we analyzed cross-sectional data of an adult German sample (<jats:italic>N</jats:italic> = 980), all of whom stated their affiliation to a Christian church. The analysis of the non-mediator model indicated a positive direct path between DTF and relationship satisfaction (<jats:italic>β</jats:italic> = 0.123). Computing the mediation effects, we found a significant, positive total effect of DTF on relationship satisfaction (<jats:italic>β</jats:italic> = 0.129). Our findings suggest indirect paths between DTF and relationship satisfaction through resentment–avoidance (<jats:italic>β</jats:italic> = 0.074) and benevolence (<jats:italic>β</jats:italic> = 0.021). Neither gender nor denomination effects emerged within the invariance analyses. The results supported the assumption that individuals with a higher level of DTF also experience greater satisfaction in their intimate relationships, by engaging in less resentful and avoidant as well as more benevolent behavior.</jats:p>