This study evaluated a four-week virtual group gratitude intervention for adults ages 59 and older (N = 129). We randomly assigned participants to an intervention (n = 64) or a waitlist condition (n = 65). The virtual intervention was led by a team of 2–3 college students who received training and supervision in delivery of the intervention. Participants completed online surveys at pretest and posttest assessing demographic variables, gratitude (Gratitude Experience, Gratitude Expression, Gratitude Obstacles), and well-being (Sleep Problems, Depression, Loneliness, Positive Affect, Physical Health). Multilevel modeling revealed that intervention participants increased more than waitlist participants on Gratitude Experience and Positive Affect and decreased more on Gratitude Obstacles and Depression. The majority of intervention participants reported they enjoyed the intervention and planned to continue practicing gratitude exercises. These findings suggest that virtual group gratitude interventions for older adults can be beneficial and enjoyable. Study implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

This chapter examines positive psychology theories and research findings on how gratitude contributes to happiness and well-being. Two theories are discussed that provide insight into why gratitude enhances well-being (i.e., Broaden-and-Build Theory; Find, Remind, and Bind Theory). Empirical findings are reviewed showing that gratitude relates to lower levels of psychological distress, higher levels of psychological well-being, and better physical health. Benefits of writing-based gratitude interventions such as maintaining gratitude journals and writing gratitude letters are described. Studies showing promising benefits of gratitude across several situations are also addressed (i.e., the workplace, romantic relationships, and aging). Finally, suggestions for enhancing gratitude in one’s life are provided along with recommendations for future research.

This article examines how Kenneth Pargament's theories and empirical research on religious coping informs the scientific study of forgiveness. Forgiveness can be conceptualized as a transformational religious coping approach. A comprehensive scientific understanding of forgiveness requires an examination of how various religions conceptualize and practice forgiveness, how religion can facilitate and/or impede forgiveness, and how religion can be effectively incorporated into forgiveness interventions.

The role of gratitude in the workplace is understudied, despite its potential for promoting well-being and achievement in organizational contexts. We developed and evaluated a measure of workplace-specific gratitude called the Gratitude at Work Scale (GAWS). In Study 1 (N = 207), we used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to identify a two-factor structure. The two subscales (Gratitude for Supportive Work Environment, Gratitude for Meaningful Work) had good estimated internal consistency and incrementally predicted burnout after controlling for trait gratitude and workplace satisfaction. In Study 2 (N = 269), we replicated the GAWS two-factor structure, found further evidence for construct validity, and uncovered strong two-week temporal stability. In Study 3 (N = 161), the GAWS was sensitive to manipulations of workplace attitudes following a writing task. The GAWS has initial psychometric support and may be useful when studying workplace functioning and well-being. (142 words)

Forgiveness-based group treatments to address interpersonal hurts have been shown to be efficacious across a range of therapy models (Wade, Hoyt, Kidwell, & Worthington, 2014). However, little is known about how treatment and individual characteristics may interact in predicting outcomes. The present study examined a sample of 162 community adults randomly assigned to three treatment conditions; an 8-week REACH Forgiveness intervention (Worthington, 2006), an 8-week process group, and a waitlist control. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) indicated that the forgiveness-based treatment was more effective than the waitlist control across a range of forgiveness-related constructs but no more effective than the process condition. Furthermore, attachment avoidance and anxiety interacted with treatment type to predict certain outcomes, indicating that the REACH Forgiveness model may be more helpful for promoting forgiveness with insecurely attached individuals.

Forgiveness interventions have been employed in individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy. Few attempts have been made to deliver forgiveness interventions via community-based campaigns. In the current field study, we administered a community-based forgiveness campaign to an entire university campus. A quasi-experimental design was used in which multiple pre-tests were compared to post-test scores on a psychometrically sound measure of forgiveness as well as single items assessing forgiveness, love, and conflict across students' relationships with others in the community (i.e. friends, roommates, teachers, and parents). Multilevel models were specified to compare repeated scores from the baseline phase to post-intervention phase scores. Findings indicated that community-based approaches are a viable method of promoting forgiveness that may serve as a less intense but more easily disseminated and less costly approach to promoting forgiveness than traditional modalities of psychological treatment. Implications for future empirical investigation and clinical application are discussed.

Chapter 24 Interventions to Promote Forgiveness are Exemplars of Positive Clinical Psychology Everett L. Worthington Jr., Everett L. Worthington Jr.Search for more papers by this authorBrandon J. Griffin, Brandon J. GriffinSearch for more papers by this authorCaroline R. Lavelock, Caroline R. LavelockSearch for more papers by this authorChelsea M. Hughes, Chelsea M. HughesSearch for more papers by this authorChelsea L. Greer, Chelsea L. GreerSearch for more papers by this authorSteven J. Sandage, Steven J. SandageSearch for more papers by this authorMark S. Rye, Mark S. RyeSearch for more papers by this author Everett L. Worthington Jr., Everett L. Worthington Jr.Search for more papers by this authorBrandon J. Griffin, Brandon J. GriffinSearch for more papers by this authorCaroline R. Lavelock, Caroline R. LavelockSearch for more papers by this authorChelsea M. Hughes, Chelsea M. HughesSearch for more papers by this authorChelsea L. Greer, Chelsea L. GreerSearch for more papers by this authorSteven J. Sandage, Steven J. SandageSearch for more papers by this authorMark S. Rye, Mark S. RyeSearch for more papers by this author Book Editor(s):Alex M. Wood, Alex M. WoodSearch for more papers by this authorJudith Johnson, Judith JohnsonSearch for more papers by this author First published: 22 April 2016 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118468197.ch24Citations: 1 AboutPDFPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShareShare a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Summary This chapter discusses and summarizes forgiveness-related concepts and forgiveness interventions. Worthington argued that there are two related but distinct types of forgiveness, namely decisional forgiveness and emotional forgiveness. Worthington's REACH Forgiveness model has been most often employed in psychoeducational settings, but recently was applied with borderline personality disorder. It examines the empirical evidence for their efficacy and potential mechanisms by which forgiveness interventions can promote better physical and mental health. The chapter then explores strength of forgiveness interventions with clinical populations in contrast to community populations and populations who sought forgiveness to enrich their lives rather than repair problems. The authors suggest an important implication from their analysis: forgiveness treatments can often be used as adjuncts to make psychotherapy more cost-effective. Finally, the chapter concludes that psychotherapists might use forgiveness treatments to speed and deepen psychotherapy. Citing Literature The Wiley Handbook of Positive Clinical Psychology RelatedInformation

We review 14 measures of forgiveness, including measures of state forgiveness, forgivingness as a disposition or trait, self-reported state self-forgiveness, and trait self-forgivingness. The state forgiveness measures include self-report measures, chemical measures of state unforgiveness and forgiveness, measures of peripheral physiology (i.e., blood pressure, heart rate, skin conductance, and electrical activity of facial muscles) to supplement self-reports – unforgiveness, measures of brain activity associated with forgiveness, and behavioral indices of forgiveness. We also review a ten-item scale and a five-scenario scale of dispositional forgivingness. Self-forgiveness may also be assessed at state (one measure) and trait levels (one measure). These measures of forgiveness and their various targets (self or other) and different levels (state or trait) are generally strong – with considerable evidence supporting estimated reliabilities and construct validities.

OBJECTIVE:This pilot study evaluated a manualized group forgiveness module within dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).METHOD:The study utilized a quasi-experimental double pretest design with adults (N = 40; 88.1% female, 11.9% male) diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in outpatient DBT. Measures of forgiveness, attachment, and psychiatric symptoms were completed at 4 time points.RESULTS:Participants showed increases in all measures of forgiveness and decreases in attachment insecurity and psychiatric symptoms during the forgiveness module and maintained to the 6-week follow-up. These effects were not observed during the prior distress tolerance module. Latent change score modeling showed reductions in anxious attachment mediated the effect of changes in benevolent motivations to forgive and trait forgiveness scores on reductions in psychiatric symptoms.CONCLUSIONS:Effect sizes were similar to meta-analytic findings on (a) forgiveness interventions and (b) reductions in psychiatric symptoms in DBT. Participant feedback suggested elements for further development. A randomized controlled trial is needed.

This chapter examines the role of religion in forgiving others. We begin by briefly discussing the conceptualization and practice of forgiveness within Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and Buddhism. This is followed by an overview of empirical studies on how forgiveness relates to religiosity, prayer, meditation, sanctification, and congregational support. Studies on the effectiveness of religiously based forgiveness group interventions are highlighted. We also review outcome studies on interventions designed to enhance forgiveness in religious communities. Implications for clinicians and researchers working with people who are trying to forgive others are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to develop and conduct a preliminary validation of a screening tool to assess psychosocial adjustment in young children and their parents following an unintentional pediatric burn-injury. Parents ( N = 62) of young children receiving medical treatment for a pediatric burn injury completed our newly developed Psychosocial Adjustment to Burn Questionnaire (PABQ), a 35-item psychosocial risk screening measure for children aged 0-5 that contains Child, Parent, and Regression subscales. Parents completed additional assessments of child and parent posttraumatic stress symptoms and an assessment of optimism. The PABQ-Child and PABQ-Parent subscales demonstrated strong internal consistency and test/retest reliability. Consistent with hypotheses, the PABQ-Child and PABQ-Parent subscales were positively correlated with the Child Stress Disorder Checklist, Behavior Assessment Scale for Children (Second Edition), and the PTSD Checklist. Lastly, discriminant validity was demonstrated using the Life Orientation Test-Revised. The PABQ is a promising screening tool for psychosocial risk in young pediatric burn patients and their parents.

This study evaluated a 1-day workshop combined with postintervention journal writing designed to help divorced parents forgive their ex-spouse. Participants (N = 99) were randomly assigned to a workshop with gratitude journal condition (WG), the same workshop with daily events journal condition (WDE), or a wait-list comparison condition (WAIT). Participants completed measures of forgiveness, well-being, and parenting at pretest, posttest (i.e., after the workshop but prior to journaling), and 1-month follow-up (i.e., after the journaling). Consistent with hypotheses, forgiveness of an ex-spouse and dispositional forgiveness were positively related to coparenting, and forgiveness of an ex-spouse was related to better mental health. Participants assigned to WG improved more on situational and dispositional forgiveness as compared to other conditions. Contrary to hypotheses, participants in WG and WDE did not improve over time more than WAIT participants on mental health or parenting measures.