Forgiveness and Flourishing: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Self-Compassion

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 30;20(1):666. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010666.

Abstract

(1) Background: This study investigated the relationships between forgiveness, self-compassion, and flourishing, and examined the mediating and moderating role of self-compassion (self-warmth and self-cold) in the relationship between forgiveness and flourishing. (2) Methods: A sample of 300 Polish participants aged 18-57 (M = 23.53 years, SD = 5.82) completed the Heartland Forgiveness Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Flourishing Scale; we used Spearman's rho correlations to assess the associations between the main analyzed variables and used PROCESS software to calculate moderation and mediation. (3) Results: The obtained data showed that forgiveness and self-compassion were positively related to flourishing. Self-warmth (positive dimension of self-compassion) mediated and moderated the link between forgiveness and flourishing. In contrast, self-coldness (negative dimension of self-compassion) did not mediate or moderate the association between forgiveness and flourishing. (4) Conclusions: The results suggest that positive resources relate to and support one another. Compassionate self-responding is associated with positive resources; in contrast, uncompassionate self-responding is not significant for positive variables.

Keywords: flourishing; forgiveness; psychological well-being; self-compassion; well-being.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Empathy
  • Forgiveness*
  • Humans
  • Self Concept
  • Self-Compassion

Grants and funding

This study was financed from funds allocated to the statutory activity of the Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce (SUPS.RN.22.045).