Exploring the Role of Self-Forgiveness to Explain the Relationship Between Religiosity and Wellbeing in Individuals with Serious Mental Illness
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3719092 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sandra D Reid (0000-0003-1176-5044, University of the West Indies, corresponding author), Shelly-Ann Hunte (University of the West Indies), Marielle Joseph (Regional Health), Marsha Ivey (0000-0002-3205-1748, University of the West Indies) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Pages | 955 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel16080955 |
| OpenAlex | W4412595843 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 39 |
Self-forgiveness is identified as a contributor to psychological wellbeing and may serve as a mechanism through which religiosity supports mental health. There is a dearth of research on wellbeing and the role of self-forgiveness in the English-speaking Caribbean. This preliminary study explored the relationship between religiosity, self-forgiveness, and wellbeing among persons with serious mental illness (SMI), a population largely overlooked in this context. A convenience sample of 362 out-patients receiving care in Trinidad and Tobago completed self-reported measures of self-forgiveness, the Religious Commitment Inventory, and Havard's Flourishing Measure. Inferential statistics examined group differences in religiosity and wellbeing, and predictive relationships among key variables. Among persons with SMI, higher religiosity was significantly associated with greater wellbeing (p < 0.0001). Additionally, there was greater wellbeing among those who reported a propensity to self-forgive compared to those who did not (p < 0.0001). Self-forgiveness explained a significant part of the relationship between religiosity and wellbeing. Furthermore, among the non-highly religious, self-forgiveness was also significantly associated with greater wellbeing (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that self-forgiveness may mediate the link between religiosity and wellbeing, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic coping mechanism for individuals with serious mental illness. This study adds to the growing literature on religious coping in mental health and underscores the need for further research to clarify the mediating role of self-forgiveness
Cognition · Depressive symptoms · Forgiveness · Mental health · Mental illness · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Religiosity · Clinical Psychology · Forgiveness and Related Behaviors · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Social Psychology
Kin Altruism, Reciprocal Altruism, and the Big Five Personality Factors
The Oxford Handbook of Caribbean Religions
Self–Forgiveness
Religiousness and mental health
Forgiveness and Conflict Resolution in Marriage.
Forgiveness is an emotion-focused coping strategy that can reduce health risks and promote health resilience
Counseling Within the Forgiveness Triad
The Religious Commitment Inventory--10
Religion, Spirituality, and Health
Forgiveness as a mediator of the religiosity—health relationship
Understanding the Relationship Between State Forgiveness and Psychological Wellbeing
Religion and Life Satisfaction
The association of forgiveness and 12-month prevalence of major depressive episode
The interplay of forgiveness by God and self-forgiveness
The well-being correlates of religious commitment amongst South African and Kenyan students
Religiousness and depression
Patterns of Positive and Negative Religious Coping with Major Life Stressors
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |