Forgiveness boosts health; effect varies with age

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Forgiveness boosts health; effect varies with age

NEW YORK, Dec 28 (Reuters Health) - To err is human and to forgive

divine, according to the old adage, but humans who forgive are known to

experience significant physical and mental health benefits from doing

so. Now researchers report that these beneficial health effects appear

to vary by age, along with the willingness to forgive others, the

willingness to forgive oneself and the feeling of being forgiven by God.

" Taken together, our findings emphasize that forgiveness is a

multidimensional phenomenon, " write study lead author Dr. Loren L.

Toussaint of the University of Michigan and colleagues. " There are age

differences in some forms of forgiveness and in their relationship to

health. "

Their conclusions are based on survey responses from more than 1,400

adults during a 5-month study period.

In general, young adults (18-44 years) reported that they were less

likely to forgive others than middle-aged (45-64) and older adults (65

and older). They were also less likely than older adults to believe that

they had been forgiven by God, the investigators report in the Journal

of Adult Development.

Among survey participants of all ages, however, reports of forgiveness

of themselves and others were associated with decreased psychological

distress, including feelings of restlessness, hopelessness and

nervousness.

Further, young adults who reported high levels of self-forgiveness were

more likely to be satisfied with their lives, whereas middle age and

older adults who reported high levels of forgiveness of others were more

likely to report increased life satisfaction.

But not all forgiving is immediately beneficial, the findings suggest.

Proactive forgiveness-asking for forgiveness, rather than granting

it--was associated with increased psychological distress among all study

participants. Other acts of proactive forgiveness would include asking

God's forgiveness for hurting someone or praying for someone who has

hurt them.

The researchers speculate that this may be because such proactive

individuals are " 'taking the first step' in the process of forgiveness, "

which may lead to heightened stress.

In other findings, attendance at religious services was associated with

decreased psychological distress, particularly among young and

middle-aged adults, and increased life satisfaction among young and old

adults. Service attendance was also associated with higher self-rated

health among all age groups.

The study was partly supported by a grant from the National Institute of

Mental Health.

SOURCE: Journal of Adult Development 2001;8:249-257.