The efficacy of forgiveness intervention in college age adults: Randomized controlled study

This randomized controlled study evaluated the efficacy of a combination of rational-emotive group therapy with the emotional refocusing techniques from The Institute of HeartMath in promoting forgiveness and related psychosocial factors. Fifty-five students who had identified an unresolved interpersonal hurt volunteered to be randomly assigned to an intervention or wait list condition. Outcome variables were measured at Pre-test, Post-test, and at 10 weeks Follow-up. Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvement in their tendency to forgive, willingness to forgive the transgressor, level of hurt, anger, perceived self-efficacy, hope, and spiritual growth. The implications of these findings are discussed.