Forgiveness isn’t just a moral choice; it can also be a mental health tool. Studies show that letting go of grudges can significantly reduce anxiety, lower stress, and boost overall well-being. By choosing to forgive, we lighten the emotional load as well as foster peace of mind and resilience in daily life.
WORDS LIM TECK CHOON
The study, a randomized controlled trial, was conducted by a team of investigators from various countries.
The trial had 4,598 participants, the largest number to date, from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ukraine, Colombia, and South Africa.
These participants each used a workbook to help them increase their ability and disposition to forgive. One group received the workbook earlier, which the other group received it at a later date.
WHAT THE INVESTIGATORS FOUND
Participants that had more time to use the workbook displayed a reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms, and an increase in flourishing.
FORGIVENESS INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH
The investigators believe that their finding shows that forgiveness intervention can be used as a supplemental therapeutic and preventative approach to improving mental health.
“Forgiveness, while often overlooked in health care discussions, is an issue of public health,” the investigators concluded.
“The growing body of research reinforces the efficacy of forgiveness interventions in improving many aspects of human flourishing, from mental health to happiness, character, and even our sense of hope,” they added.
| The workbook used in this study can be downloaded for free here (link opens in a new tab). |
| This article is part of our series on mental wellness. |
Reference: Ho, M. Y., Worthington, E. L., Cowden, R. G., Bechara, A. O., Chen, Z. J., Gunatirin, E. Y., Joynt, S., Khalanskyi, V. V., Korzhov, H., Kurniati, N. M. T., Rodriguez, N., Anastasiya Salnykova, A., Shtanko, L., Tymchenko, S., Voytenko, V. L., Zulkaida, A., Mathur, M. B., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2024). International REACH forgiveness intervention: a multisite randomised controlled trial. BMJ Public Health, 2(1), e000072. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2023-000072
