Case Examples Of Experimental Studies (with Randomized Experimental And Control Groups) In which People Learn to Forgive
Incest Survivors – After 14 months positive changes in forgiveness, depression, anxiety, hope, and self-esteem (N = 12). (Freedman & Enright, 1996).
Emotionally Abused Women. Results are similar to the above in terms of forgiving and emotional health with decreased anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, and increased self-esteem (N =20) (Reed & Enright, 2006).
Cardiac Patients again the experimental parentheses forgiveness (group became emotionally healthier than the control group. at a four-month follow-up, the experimental group had more efficiently functioning hearts than the control group all males, (N = 9 in the experimental group; N = 8 in the control group) (Waltman et al., 2009).
Terminally Ill Elderly Cancer Patients. After a 4-week intervention, the Forgiveness group showed greater improvement in psychological health ( less anger, more hopefulness toward the future, than the control group. physical indicators of both groups showed declines (Hansen & Enright, 2009).
There are so many more Forgiveness Research articles on the International Forgiveness Institute website: https://internationalforgiveness.com/research/
References
Freedman, S. R., & Enright, R. D. (1996). Forgiveness as an intervention goal with incest survivors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(5), 983-992. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.64.5.983
Hansen, M. J., Enright, R. D., Baskin, T. W., & Klatt, J. (2009). A palliative care intervention in forgiveness therapy for elderly terminally ill cancer patients. Journal of Palliative Care, 25(1), 51-60. https://doi.org/10.1177/082585970902500106
Reed, G. L., & Enright, R. D. (2006). The effects of forgiveness therapy on depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress for women after spousal emotional abuse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(5), 920-929. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.5.920Waltman, M. A., Russell, D. C., Coyle, C. T., Enright, R. D., Holter, A. C., & M. Swoboda, C. (2009). The effects of a forgiveness intervention on patients with coronary artery disease. Psychology & Health, 24(1), 11-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440801975127