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Forgiveness and health: The role of attachment
Author(s) -
LAWLERROW KATHLEEN A.,
HYATTEDWARDS LAURA,
WUENSCH KARL L.,
KARREMANS JOHAN C.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
personal relationships
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.81
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1475-6811
pISSN - 1350-4126
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01327.x
Subject(s) - forgiveness , psychology , loneliness , association (psychology) , psychological health , clinical psychology , structural equation modeling , physical health , intrusiveness , developmental psychology , social psychology , mental health , psychiatry , psychotherapist , statistics , mathematics
Attachment was examined for its association to forgiveness and health. Young adults were interviewed about a time of conflict with a parent; during rest and interview periods, readings of blood pressure and heart rate were taken. Participants completed surveys of forgiveness, attachment, relationship commitment, parental intrusiveness, and health. Analyses revealed strong associations among forgiveness, attachment, and health. Structural equation modeling indicated a strong, negative direct association between forgiveness and health problems, as well as an indirect association between attachment and health problems through forgiveness. Forgiveness groups differed on heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Psychological tension, created by unforgiveness in a close relationship, may lead to physiological indices of unease, as well as self‐reports of physical symptoms, loneliness, and stress.