How forgiveness relieves anxiety: the role of differentiation of self

ABSTRACT

Although forgiveness has been found to reduce anxiety, no research to date has examined the actual mechanism. This could be derived from Murray Bowen’s theory and his concept of differentiation of self (DoS). In the present cross-sectional study, we tested a model in which self-differentiation mediates the link between dispositional forgiveness and trait anxiety. The sample was composed of 216 individuals. Polish adaptations of the Heartland Forgiveness Scale, the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used. Results indicated that the three aspects of DoS (emotional reactivity, I-position, emotional cut-off) partially mediated the negative association between total forgiveness and anxiety. Emotional reactivity and emotional cut-off mediated the association between reduced unforgiveness and anxiety while positive forgiveness–anxiety link was mediated by I-position and emotional cut-off. The findings demonstrate that differentiation of self might be a mechanism via which forgiveness reduces anxiety after one has been hurt.

KEYWORDS:

• Forgiveness
• forgivingness
• differentiation of self
• anxiety
• subjective well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

Data available on request from the authors.

Ethics approval

The study was conducted in accordance with fundamental ethical principles.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Consent for publication

All authors gave their consent for publication of the manuscript in the present form.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Kinga Kaleta

Kinga Kaleta, PhD, is a doctor in the Department of Psychology at the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Poland. She is an author of a number of articles, her areas of writing and research interest include forgiveness, particularly in family and marriage. She also works as a psychotherapist and a couple counsellor.

Justyna Mróz

Justyna Mróz, PhD, is a Doctor in the Department of Psychology at The Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, Poland. She has published numerous articles and chapters in the areas of forgiveness. She has 15 years of experience in psychotherapy and psychological help for people with trauma.