Dementia spousal caregivers and past transgressions: Measuring and understanding forgiveness experiences (original) (raw)
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Because those we love are paradoxically the ones we are most likely to hurt, it is critical to understand forgiveness in close relationships. Indeed, spouses report thatthe capacity to seek and grant forgiveness is one of the most important factors contributing to marital longevity and marital satisfaction (Fenell, 1993), and mar-ital therapists note that forgiveness is a challenging but necessary part of the healing process for major relationship transgressions such as infidelity (Gordon & Baucom, 1999).
“’Til Lack of Forgiveness Doth Us Part”: Forgiveness and Marriage
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Because those we love are paradoxically the ones we are most likely to hurt, it is critical to understand forgiveness in close relationships. Indeed, spouses report that the capacity to seek and grant forgiveness is one of the most important factors contributing to marital longevity and marital satisfaction (Fenell, 1993), and marital therapists note that forgiveness is a challenging but necessary part of the healing process for major relationship transgressions such as infi delity (Gordon & Baucom, 1999). Likewise, forgiveness of everyday hurts may contribute to relationship strength in numerous ways (Fincham, Beach, & Davila, 2004). This chapter explores forgiveness as it operates within the context of marriage, considering the existing research that has been done in this area as well as identifying promising directions for future research. We also address how forgiveness can be applied in interventions with individual couples and groups of couples within the community. Finally, w...
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Abstract Italian husbands (n= 79) and wives (n= 92) from long-term marriages provided data on the role of marital quality, affective reactions, and attributions for hypothetical partner transgressions in promoting forgiveness. Structural equation modeling revealed that, as hypothesized, positive marital quality was predictive of more benign attributions that, in turn, facilitated forgiveness both directly and indirectly via affective reactions and emotional empathy.
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Abstract McCullough, Rachal, et al.'s (1998) social-psychological framework of forgiveness informed a longitudinal study that examined the extent to which marital forgiveness is determined by social-cognitive (the offended spouse's rumination and emotional empathy) and relationship variables (the quality of the relationship in which the offense took place). In the study, 119 husbands and 124 wives from long-and medium-term marriages in north Italy provided data at two time points separated by a 6-month interval.
Longitudinal relations between forgiveness and conflict resolution in marriage.
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Abstract 1. Does forgiveness predict later conflict resolution in married couples? Twelve-month follow-up data on conflict resolution were collected from the couples studied by FD Fincham, SR Beach, and J. Davila (see record 2004-11293-007), who had provided earlier reports of forgiveness and conflict resolution. For wives, the positive dimension of forgiveness or benevolence predicted husbands' later reports of better conflict resolution controlling for initial levels of conflict resolution.
2009
Abstract 1. Three studies involving 328 married couples were conducted to validate the Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale, a new measure assessing offence-specific forgiveness for marital transgressions. The studies examined the dimensionality; internal consistency; and discriminant, concurrent, and predictive validity of the new measure. The final scale comprised 2 distinct correlated dimensions, 1 positive (Benevolence) and 1 negative (Resentment–Avoidance), both of which had adequate internal consistency.
Dementia caregiving in spousal relationships: A dyadic perspective
Aging & Mental Health, 2009
The number of couples facing a dementia diagnosis for one partner of the spousal dyad increases. Spousal caregiving can be a highly stressful experience associated with negative caregiver outcomes such as depression and poorer immune function. However, surprisingly little is known about how the illness and the required care effects patient's well-being and relational changes experienced by afflicted couples. The aim of this study was to provide a literature review on how the dyadic perspective is taken into account and on how dementia effects both parts of the dyad. Methods: In order to outline findings about individual and dyadic well-being of affected couples, we conducted a literature search to review the three types of studies. First, studies focusing on one partner's perspective, usually the perspective of the caregiver; second, studies including the caregiver's and partially the care receiver's view; third, studies directly referring to both partners' perspectives. Results: The majority of studies neglect the individual with dementia by exclusively assessing caregiver variables or only indirectly including patients' characteristics. Very few studies embrace dyadic and relational variables to execute how both partners experience the illness, spousal caregiving, and changes in the relationship. Despite the arguable validity of self reports of individuals with dementia, some studies demonstrated the usefulness of including both partners' perspectives. Discussion: Results indicate the urgent need of integrating the perspective of the individual with dementia to improve the understanding of the effects of dementia caregiving. Directly assessing the dyadic perspective of affected couples provides essential information for interventions.
Unraveling the role of forgiveness in family relationships.
2008
Abstract 1. Testing the idea that the process of forgiveness is intrinsically different across diverse relationships, this study examined the role of forgiveness in different family relationships. In 2 laboratory sessions 1 year apart, 114 families (each including 2 parents and 1 child) completed a new measure of family forgiveness and many individual-level, relationship-level, and family-level variables that have been previously linked with forgiveness.
A dyadic assessment of forgiveness in intimate relationships
Personal Relationships, 2005
This study investigated forgiveness by examining couplesÕ recollections and perceptions of specific incidents of transgressions in their relationships. The results replicated previous research but also produced some novel findings. Results showed that more positive attributions and relationship quality independently predicted higher internal forgiveness, whereas expressed forgiveness was related only to relationship quality. Overall, the sample was negatively biased in their perceptions of their partner's forgiveness, but those participants who tended toward a positive bias were happier with their relationships as were their partners. Results are discussed in terms of prior research and theories of forgiveness and related social judgments in intimate relationships.