Forgiveness and Mental Health Among People Entering Outpatient Treatment With Alcohol Problems

Abstract

While forgiveness appears to be directly associated with treatment outcomes for alcohol problems, it may have indirect effects through mental health symptoms. We examined multiple dimensions of forgiveness: of self (ForSelf), of others (ForOthers), and by God (ByGod). Both ForSelf and ForOthers were strongly related to mental health at baseline (N = 157), whereas at 6 months, ForSelf was strongly related to mental health (N = 126). Longitudinally, baseline ForOthers predicted 6-month mental health symptoms. Forgiving oneself and others has implications for the mental health of alcoholics entering treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol problems
• treatment
• spirituality
• forgiveness
• mental health

Notes

^a1 = male, 2 = female;

^b1 = full-/part-time employment, 2 = unemployed;

^c1 = black, 2 = white;

^d1 = married/living together, 2 = other.

^§Baseline forgiveness variable by follow-up mental health variable (N = 118–126).

*p ≤ .05;

**p ≤ .01.

^‡Two block HRA controlling for demographic variables followed by entering forgiveness variables.

^§Brief Symptom Inventory indices.

*p ≤ .05;

**p ≤ .01;

***p ≤ .001.

^‡Two block HRA controlling for demographic variables followed by entering forgiveness variables.

^§Brief Symptom Inventory indices.

*p ≤ .05;

**p ≤ .01;

***p ≤ .001.

^‡Three Block HRAs controlling for demographic variables, followed by base forgiveness, and base mental health.

^§Brief Symptom Inventory indices.

*p ≤ .05;

**p ≤ .01;

***p ≤ .001;

^† p < .06.