Forgiveness, Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness

Abstract

The Forgiveness scale is a key component of the comprehensive framework developed by the Fetzer Institute/National Institute on Aging Working Group for the Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness/Spirituality (R/S) in Health Research. Developed primarily by Ellen Idler and colleagues (2003), this instrument operationalizes forgiveness as a multi-faceted construct crucial to psychological and physical well-being. It measures five distinct dimensions of forgiveness, including the ability to confess, receiving forgiveness from God and others, and the capacity to forgive both oneself and others. The scale is available in both a ten-item Long Form and a three-item Short Form, designed for efficient integration into large-scale epidemiological studies.

Keywords

Forgiveness, Religiousness, Spirituality, Psychological Measurement, Health Research, Self-Forgiveness, Interpersonal Forgiveness, Fetzer Institute, NIA Working Group, Confession.

Authors

Ellen L. Idler, Martha A. Musick, Christopher G. Ellison, P. A. Mauger, J. Perry, T. Freeman, D. Grove, A. McBridge, K. McKinney.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this scale is to systematically assess the various dimensions of forgiveness within populations studied for health and social science research. It was specifically designed to contribute to the standardized measurement of Religiousness and Spirituality (R/S) as outlined by the Fetzer Institute/NIA Working Group, aiming to improve the rigor and comparability of studies investigating the R/S-health connection.

By capturing distinct facets—such as the psychological process of Confession and the theological belief in Forgiveness by God—the instrument allows researchers to correlate specific spiritual coping mechanisms with physical and mental health outcomes, thereby supporting robust epidemiological analyses.

Construct

The scale measures Forgiveness as a multidimensional construct, acknowledging that the process involves both intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics, often interwoven with theological beliefs. The Long Form specifically differentiates forgiveness into five primary sub-scales, many of which draw upon the foundational measurement work conducted by Mauger and colleagues (1992): Confession, Forgiveness by God, Forgiveness by Others, Forgiveness of Others, and Forgiveness of Oneself.

These dimensions provide a comprehensive view of the individual’s capacity for reconciliation and self-acceptance, ranging from recognizing personal wrongdoing (Confession) to the ability to release grudges against others, and the self-regulatory process of Forgiveness of Oneself. The inclusion of belief-based items, such as “Forgiveness by God,” highlights the specific religious and theological context relevant to many study participants.

Validity

While specific psychometric statistics (such as detailed construct validity data) are not explicitly provided in the summary source report, the scale items were selected based on established measures, particularly those developed by Mauger et al. (1992). Its inclusion in the consensus framework for the Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness/Spirituality suggests strong face and content validity, ensuring that the items comprehensively cover the intended domains of forgiveness relevant to psychological health outcomes.

Further validation evidence comes from its successful application in large-scale population surveys, such as the 1998 General Social Survey (GSS), where its factor structure was tested against other established measures of religious involvement and psychological distress, confirming its utility in epidemiological contexts.

Reliability

The overall reliability of the various sub-scales, particularly the five dimensions measured by the Long Form, is generally expected to meet standards required for rigorous population-level studies, consistent with other instruments vetted and recommended in the Fetzer/NIA report. Researchers utilizing this instrument are encouraged to consult the original 2003 and 2004 Idler et al. papers detailing the psychometric properties derived from its application in the GSS data, which provide specific reliability coefficients (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) for the individual sub-scales.

Factor Analysis

The Long Form of the scale is structured to reflect a clear, theoretically derived five-factor model corresponding to the five conceptual dimensions of forgiveness: Confession, Forgiveness by God, Forgiveness by Others, Forgiveness of Others, and Forgiveness of Oneself. This multidimensional approach was chosen to capture the complexity of forgiveness that extends beyond simple interpersonal dynamics.

The factor analysis performed during the development and testing phase, particularly within the context of the 1998 GSS data analyzed by Idler and colleagues, supported the distinct nature of these five factors, validating the scale’s ability to measure separate components of religious and spiritual coping mechanisms.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Questionnaire

Format: Likert-type scale, typically administered in a survey setting.

Language Available: English (Primary publication language).

Population Group: General population; specifically utilized in large-scale epidemiological and public health research studies.

Age Group: Adults

Population Details: Has been applied to nationally representative samples, including participants in the 1998 General Social Survey (GSS).

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate the frequency of their feelings or beliefs using a four-point scale defined as: 1 – Always or almost always, 2 – Often, 3 – Seldom, 4 – Never.

Keywords

Psychometrics, Self-Forgiveness, Religious Beliefs, Health Outcomes, Idler Scale, Mauger, NIA, GSS, Spiritual Health.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in source material.

Correspondence Address: Refer to primary publication (Idler et al., 2003/2004) for institutional affiliations, which include institutions associated with the Fetzer Institute/NIA Working Group.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The conceptual framework for this instrument was formalized around 2003, stemming from the work of the Fetzer Institute/NIA Working Group. As part of a consensus report designed to promote standardized measurement in health research, the scale is generally available for non-commercial academic and research use. Researchers should, however, confirm specific usage rights with the primary authors (Idler et al.) or the Fetzer Institute, which published the foundational report.

The full instrument is available in the publication: Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness/Spirituality for Use in Health Research: A Report of the Fetzer Institute/National Institute on Aging Working Group, available online at: http://fetzer.org/resources/multidimensional-measurement-religiousnessspirituality-use-health-research.

Reference’s

• Idler‚ E. L‚ Ellison‚ C. G.‚ George‚ L. K.‚ Krause‚ N.‚ Levin‚ J.‚ Ory‚ M.‚ Pargament‚ K.‚ Powell‚ L.‚ Williams‚ D.‚ Gordon‚ L.‚ & Musick‚ M. A. (2004). Measuring multiple dimensions of religion and spirituality for health research: Conceptual background and findings from the 1998 General Social Survey. Research on Aging‚ 25‚ 327-365.
• Idler‚ E.‚ Musick‚ M. A.‚ Ellison‚ C. G. et al. (2003). Measuring multiple dimensions of religion and spirituality for health research: Conceptual background and findings from the 1998 General Social Survey. Research on Aging‚ 25‚ 327-365.
• Mauger PA‚ Perry J‚ Freeman T‚ Grove D‚ McBridge A‚ McKinney K. The measurement of forgiveness: preliminary research. J Psychol Christianity. 1992;11:170-180.
• The complete instrument and descriptive information are detailed in the official report: Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness/Spirituality for Use in Health Research: A Report of the Fetzer Institute/National Institute on Aging Working Group, available online at: http://fetzer.org/resources/multidimensional-measurement-religiousnessspirituality-use-health-research.

Items of the Forgiveness‚ Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

FORGIVENESS-LONG FORM

Confession

1. It is easy for me to admit that I am wrong. (Mauger et al)
2. If I hear a sermon‚ I usually think about things that I have done wrong.(Mauger et al)

Forgiveness by God

3. I believe that God has forgiven me for things I have done wrong.
4. I believe that there are times when God has punished me.

Forgiveness by Others

5. I believe that when people say they forgive me for something I did they really mean it. (Mauger et al)
6. I often feel that no matter what I do now I will never make up for the mistakes I have made in the past. (Mauger et al)

Forgiveness of Others

7. I am able to make up pretty easily with friends who have hurt me in some way. (Mauger et al)
8. I have grudges which I have held onto for months or years. (Mauger et al)

Forgiveness of Oneself

9. I find it hard to forgive myself for some things that I have done. (Mauger et al)
10. I often feel like I have failed to live the right kind of life. (Mauger et al)

FORGIVENESS-SHORT FORM

1. I have forgiven myself for things that I have done wrong.
2. I have forgiven those who hurt me.
3. I know that God forgives me.

Scoring: 1 – Always or almost always‚ 2 – Often‚ 3 – Seldom‚ 4 – Never