Forgiveness, Depression, and Suicidal Behavior Among a Diverse Sample of College Students
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2011
Description
Depression and suicide are significant public health concerns for college-age young adults. Meaning-based characteristics, such as forgiveness, a voluntary coping process involving offering, feeling, or seeking a change from negative to positive cognitions, behaviors, and affect toward a transgressor, may buffer such poor mental health outcomes. Utilizing mediation analyses, we examined cross-sectional associations between forgiveness, depression, and suicidal behavior in a diverse student sample reporting mild to severe depressive symptoms. The effect of self-forgiveness on suicidal behavior was fully mediated by depression; self-forgiveness was associated with depression and, in turn, with suicidal behavior. Forgiveness of others was directly associated with suicidal behavior. Prospective research is needed, yet self and other-forgiveness may be appropriate targets for promotion in suicide prevention efforts.
Citation Information
Hirsch, Jameson K.; Webb, Jon R.; and Jeglic, Elizabeth L.. 2011. Forgiveness, Depression, and Suicidal Behavior Among a Diverse Sample of College Students. Journal of Clinical Psychology. Vol.67(9). 896-906. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20812 PMID: 21633957 ISSN: 0021-9762