Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, UT, USA.
J Fam Psychol. 2011 Aug;25(4):551-9. doi: 10.1037/a0024526.
Although the ability to forgive transgressions has been linked to overall relationship satisfaction, the mechanisms that mediate this association have not been established. We propose that the tendency to forgive a romantic partner increases relationship satisfaction via increased relational effort and decreased negative conflict. In two studies, we used structural equations modeling to examine these variables as potential mechanisms that drive this association. In Study 1 (N = 523) and Study 2 (N = 446) we found that these variables significantly mediated the association between forgiveness and relationship satisfaction. The findings were robust when examined concurrently and longitudinally, across multiple measures of forgiveness, and when accounting for baseline relationship satisfaction and interpersonal commitment. These two mechanisms parallel theorized positive and negative dimensions of forgiveness and the motivational transformation that is said to underlie forgiveness. Theoretical implications and implications for intervention are discussed.
尽管宽恕他人的能力与整体关系满意度有关，但介导这种关联的机制尚未确定。我们提出，原谅伴侣的倾向会通过增加关系投入和减少负面冲突来增加关系满意度。在两项研究中，我们使用结构方程模型来检验这些变量作为驱动这种关联的潜在机制。在研究 1（N=523）和研究 2（N=446）中，我们发现这些变量显著中介了宽恕与关系满意度之间的关系。当同时、纵向、跨多种宽恕测量以及考虑基线关系满意度和人际承诺进行检验时，发现结果是稳健的。这两个机制与理论上的宽恕的积极和消极维度以及被认为是宽恕基础的动机转变相平行。讨论了理论意义和干预意义。
