Gender and Forgiveness in Early Married Couples

• Main Author: Lerner, Andrea J.
• Format: Others
• Published: VCU Scholars Compass 2006
• Subjects: moral reasoning; emotion; religion; Psychology; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1420; http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2419&context=etd

Ninety-five studies that addressed the possibility of gender differences in forgiveness literature are reviewed. Gender differences were examined with respect to predictor variables and outcome variables. Participants were 314 couples from the community who had been married less than one year. Participants filled out questionnaires. Males were more forgiving and were more committed to the marriage. However, females were more successful at granting forgiveness. In addition, females were more religious and reported more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hostility. Four structural equation models were tested in order to test for gender differences. Structural models including the latent variables of martial satisfaction, marital commitment, marital forgiveness, and mental health fit the data better for males than for females. Results support the conclusion that there are gender differences in forgiveness in recently married couples.