(art: Le Bal Bullier, Sonia Delaunay, 1913)
Research continues to confirm the important role of forgiveness and forgiveness processes for persons recovering from traumatic experiences, and for personal growth after traumatic experiences (post-traumatic growth, or “PTG”). In a recent article published in Spirituality in Clinical Practice, researcher Margaret Poandl and colleagues (2025) at Virginia Commonwealth University examined whether dispositional forgiveness is linked to post-traumatic growth as measured by three dimensions of forgiveness on post-traumatic growth:
- forgiveness of self
- forgiveness of others
- situational forgiveness (situational acceptance, forgiveness for a specific situation)
The study was motivated by the shortage of research examining the relationship between post-traumatic growth and each of three dimensions of forgiveness, as well as intent on the part of the researchers to better understand the growth process of interpersonal trauma.
Using a very large sample of 535 adults and utilizing the Heartland Forgiveness Scale and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the researchers observed that forgiveness of self and situational forgiveness were both statistically significant predictors of post-traumatic growth (PTG). However, forgiveness of others was not linked to post-traumatic growth at a statistically significant level.
The researchers concluded that their findings highlight the importance of intentionally fostering forgiveness of self, and situational forgiveness, in interventions to promote growth during trauma recovery. In addition, persons in trauma recovery can be better guided toward post-traumatic growth (PTG) by encouraging self-compassion, situational understanding, and healthy relational choices, so as to empower them to thrive after trauma.
These findings parallel other findings in a recent review of forgiveness interventions by VanderWeele and Lee (2025) in the International Journal of Wellbeing. The authors observed that there is strong observational and experimental evidence that forgiveness interventions are effective not only at increasing forgiveness but also in alleviating depression and anxiety and promoting flourishing (Wade et al., 2014; Wade and Tittler, 2020; Ho et al., 2024). The authors added that forgiveness can truly go a long way in bringing healing to relationships and to restoring love.
Scientific research can confirm principles of forgiveness in the Catholic faith, and take the guesswork out of providing persons with the best supports for engaging in a forgiveness process, whether at the individual level, or the group level (e.g. retreat, small group series, etc.) — both levels can include the personal process of forgiveness that heals and restores wellbeing and flourishing. In its own way, Catholic faith also affirms the findings of scientific research into the power of forgiveness. It is a wonderful paradox that as immensely powerful, transformative and life-changing as forgiveness, it is also something that even the most ordinary or smallest person is capable of doing. With so many of us ordinary and small people in this world … imagine the possibilities!
Please share these words with someone who needs them today.
This text is an original work of its author Tom Delaney and was entirely composed without the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
If your parish or faith community is seeking a deeper experience of forgiveness, healing, mercy, and spiritual renewal, Live and Forgive is here to help. To begin the conversation, email Live and Forgive presenter and facilitator Tom Delaney at tom@liveandforgive.com — he will be glad to connect with you for a conversation. Please type in your email and click “Subscribe” below to stay connected and get Live and Forgive articles delivered to you.
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