The forgiving personality: Describing a life well lived?

Relationships among dispositional forgiveness, potential mediating factors and health outcome variables were assessed. In 425 adults, 50–95 years of age, trait forgiveness was higher in women, in individuals older than 60, and in those who frequently attended church services. Trait forgiveness was associated with subjective well-being, depression, and stress. Forgiveness was associated with six dimensions of successful aging and with several potential mediators of health: healthy behaviors, social support, and spiritual well-being. Partial correlations indicated that all mediators played a role in the forgiveness – health relationships; however, forgiveness also made an independent contribution to psychological well-being. While the literature has focused more on the relationship of forgiveness to reduced negative affect, the present study indicates that its association with enhancement of experience, through existential well-being, personal relationships with others and personal growth, is even stronger.