Year: 2009
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Both academic and religious communities have long considered forgiveness a salient aspect of interpersonal relationships and individual well-being.This construct has been researched extensively in a secular context, but the religious aspects are only beginning to be addressed.In particular, the experience of a perceived desecration, or a violation of the sacred, may have unique impacts on the forgiveness process and also on both interpersonal relationships and individual well-being.These links become particularly important in a marriage, which is a union considered sacred by a majority of Americans.Forgiveness has been shown to be positively linked to marital quality, but the impact desecrations may have on these aspects of life have yet to be carefully studied.The purpose of the current study was to address this gap in the research.This study examined links between desecration of a marriage, spousal and spiritual forgiveness, and marital quality as shown through satisfaction and love.One hundred and seventy eight married couples in a Midwestern community completed a variety of measures designed to address these constructs.Main analyses revealed that desecration was associated with wives' report of lower levels of marital love.Marital quality, both satisfaction and love, was associated with spousal, but not spiritual, forgiveness for both wives and husbands.Desecration was associated with lower levels of spousal forgiveness in wives, but higher levels of spiritual forgiveness in both wives and husbands.Furthermore, analyses revealed that wives' spousal forgiveness may partially mediate the relationship between desecration and lower levels of marital love.These findings are discussed along with post-hoc analyses, implications, limitations, and future directions.iii This thesis is dedicated to my family.Their support throughout the years has helped me learn and grow more than they could possibly know.Thank you Dad, Mom, and Jed.first like to express my gratitude and respect for my advisor, Annette Mahoney, for her support and guidance throughout this process.I would also like to thank my committee members, Kenneth Pargament and Anne Gordon
Author: Lisa N. Backus
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2599954774