| This nationwide online study, involving 300 African American women, investigated whether forgiveness was significantly related to resilience and health. Consistent with the increased interest in positive psychology, the purpose of the study was to examine the relationship of the disposition to forgive to psychological resilience and physical and mental health among African American women. The respondents, residing in all areas of the United States, ranged in age from 18 to over 75, and the majority had attained a minimum of an undergraduate college degree, with over half having earned advanced degrees. This quantitative study employed a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional survey design. As expected, bivariate correlations revealed a statistically significant correlation between forgiveness and resilience (r = .340, p < .01) and a stronger statistically significant relationship between forgiveness and mental health (r = .412, p < .01). Contrary to prediction, there was no statistically significant correlation between forgiveness and physical health (r = .044, p < .01). Additional analyses using multivariate analysis of variance found main effects indicating significant links between age and physical health and between religion and physical health. Interactions between forgiveness and the demographic variables of marital status and retirement also indicated significant relationships. These findings suggest that replication or more in-depth study might provide further insight into the meanings of these relationships. Results of this study added notably to scientific research about the relationship of forgiveness to resilience and health among African American women and paved the pathway to future research about positive health outcomes. |
