Interpersonal forgiveness: validation of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI-30) in the Spanish sample
Abstract
Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of interpersonal forgiveness after a specific offense for improving the health and well-being of individuals. Despite its importance, there is an evident lack of forgiveness evaluation instruments adapted to the Spanish context. The Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI-30) is the questionnaire that implements one of the most established and recognized theoretical models in the area of forgiveness. The aim of the present study is to adapt the EFI-30 for the Spanish population and evaluate its psychometric properties. Method: A sample of 426 undergraduate and graduate students (98 men, 328 women) aged from 18 to 30 years (M = 21.24; SD = 2.91), completed the EFI-30 after its adaptation to the Spanish context, as well as the Transgression Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory (TRIM-18), the Remedial Strategies Scale (RSS) and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: The Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed a good fit to the original six-factor structure (CFI = .91, TLI = .90, IFI = .91, RMSEA = .067). The reliability of these subscales and the instrument was similar to the original version. The results showed adequate criteria and convergent validity. Conclusions: The EFI-30 shows adequate psychometric properties within the Spanish context and is an appropriate instrument for evaluating interpersonal forgiveness of a specific offense in research and clinical intervention.
Downloads
References
Abad, F., Olea, J., Ponsoda, V., & García, C. (2011). Medición en ciencias sociales y de la salud [Measurement in health and social sciences]. Síntesis
Allemand, M., Steiner, M., & Hill, P. L. (2013). Effects of a forgiveness intervention for older adults. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(2), 279-286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0031839
Antony, M. M., Bieling, P. J., Cox, B. J., Enns, M. W., & Swinson, R. P. (1998). Psychometric properties of the 42-item and 21-item versions of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales in clinical groups and a community sample. Psychological Assessment, 10(2), 176-181. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.10.2.176
Bachman, G. F., & Guerrero, L. K. (2006). Forgiveness, apology, and communicative responses to hurtful events. Communication Reports, 19(1), 45-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/08934210600586357
Barcaccia, B., Pallini, S., Baiocco, R., Salvati, M., Saliani, A. M., & Schneider, B. H. (2018). Forgiveness and friendship protect adolescent victims of bullying from emotional maladjustment. Psicothema, 30(4), 427-433. https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2018.11
Barcaccia, B., Salvati, M., Pallini, S., Saliani, A.M., Baiocco, R., & Vecchio, G. M. (2022). The bitter taste of revenge: Negative affect, depression and anxiety. Current Psychology, 41, 1198–1203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00643-1
Beaton, D. E., Bombardier, C., Guillemin, F., & Ferraz, M. B. (2000). Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. Spine, 25(24), 3186-3191. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-200012150-00014
Berry, J. W., & Worthington Jr, E. L. (2001). Forgivingness, relationship quality, stress while imagining relationship events, and physical and mental health. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48(4), 447-455. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.48.4.447
Bono, G., McCullough, M. E., & Root, L. M. (2008). Forgiveness, feeling connected to others, and well-being: Two longitudinal studies. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34(2), 182-195. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167207310025
Booker, J., & Perlin, J.D. (2021). Using multiple character strengths to inform young adults’ self-compassion: The potential of hope and forgiveness. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(3), 379-389. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2020.1716048
Cheadle, A. C., & Toussaint, L. L. (2015). Forgiveness and physical health in healthy populations. In: L. Toussaint, E. Worthington & D. Williams (Eds), Forgiveness and health: Scientific evidence and theories relating forgiveness to better health (pp. 91-106). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9993-5_7
Chen, Y., Harris, S. K., Worthington Jr, E. L., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2019). Religiously or spiritually-motivated forgiveness and subsequent health and well-being among young adults: An outcome-wide analysis. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 14(5), 649-658. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2018.1519591
Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112(1), 155-159. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.155
Cordova, J., Cautilli, J., Simon, C., & Sabag, R. A. (2006). Behavior analysis of forgiveness in couples therapy. International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 2(2), 192-214. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0100776
Enright, R. D. (1996). Counseling within the forgiveness triad: On forgiving, receiving, forgiveness, and self-forgiveness. Counseling and Values, 40(2), 107-126. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-007X.1996.tb00844.x
Enright, R. D., Freedman, S., & Rique, J. (1998). The psychology of interpersonal forgiveness. In R. D. Enright & J. North (Eds.), Exploring forgiveness (pp. 46–62). The University of Wisconsin Press.
Enright, R. D., & Fitzgibbons, R. P. (2015). Forgiveness therapy: An empirical guide for resolving anger and restoring hope. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/14526-000
Enright, R., Rique, J., Lustosa, R., Song, J. Y., Komoski, M. C., Batool, I., Bolt, D., Sung, H., Huang, S. T. T., Park, Y., Leer-Salvesen, P. E., Andrade, T., Naeem, A., Viray, J., & Costuna, E. (2021). Validating the Enright Forgiveness Inventory–30 (EFI-30): International studies. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 38(2), 113–123. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000649
Exline, J. J., Baumeister, R. F., Bushman, B. J., Campbell, W. K., & Finkel, E. J. (2004). Too proud to let go: narcissistic entitlement as a barrier to forgiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87(6), 894-912. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.87.6.894
Fahimdanesh, F., Noferesti, A., & Tavakol, K. (2020). Self-compassion and forgiveness: Major predictors of marital satisfaction in young couples. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 48(3), 221-234. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2019.1708832
Fernández-Capo, M., Recoder, S., Gómez-Benito, J., Gámiz, M., Gual-García, P., Díez, P., & Worthington Jr., E. (2017). Exploring the dimensionality and the psychometric properties of the TRIM-18 in the Spanish context. Annals of Psychology, 33(3), 548-555. https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.33.2.264461
Fincham, F. D. (2000). The kiss of the porcupines: From attributing responsibility to forgiving. Personal Relationships, 7(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2000.tb00001.x
Fincham, F. D. (2009). Forgiveness: Integral to close relationships and inimical to justice. Virginia Journal of Social Policy and the Law, 16, 357-384. https://fincham.info/papers/2009virginasocialpolicyand%20law.pdf
Fincham, F. D., Beach, S. R., & Davila, J. (2004). Forgiveness and conflict resolution in marriage. Journal of Family Psychology, 18(1), 72-81. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.18.1.72
Fincham, F. D., & Beach, S. R. (2002). Forgiveness in marriage: Implications for psychological aggression and constructive communication. Personal Relationships, 9, 239-251. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6811.00016
Fincham, F. D., Jackson, H., & Beach, S. R. (2005). Transgression severity and forgiveness: Different moderators for objective and subjective severity. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(6), 860-875. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2005.24.6.860
Finney, S.J., & DiStefano, C. (2006). Nonnormal and categorical data in structural equation models. In: G.R. Hancock y R.O. Mueller (Eds.). A second course in structural equation modeling (pp. 269-314). Information Age.
Friedberg, J. P., Suchday, S., & Srinivas, V. S. (2009). Relationship between forgiveness and psychological and physiological indices in cardiac patients. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 16(3), 205-211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-008-9016-2
George, D., & Mallery, P. (2003). SPSS for Windows step by step: A simple guide and reference, 11.0 Update. Allyn & Bacon.
Gismero‑González, E., Jódar, R., Martínez-Diaz, P., Carrasco, M. J., Cagigal, V., & Prieto‑Ursúa, M. (2019). Interpersonal offenses and psychological well-being: The mediating role of forgiveness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21(1), 75-94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-00070-x
Gjersing, L., Caplehorn, J. R., & Clausen, T. (2010). Cross-cultural adaptation of research instruments: language, setting, time and statistical considerations. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 10(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-10-13
Gordon, K. C., Hughes, F. M., Tomcik, N. D., Dixon, L. J., & Litzinger, S. C. (2009). Widening spheres of impact: The role of forgiveness in marital and family functioning. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014354
Griffin, B. J., Worthington, E. L., Lavelock, C. R., Wade, N. G., & Hoyt, W. T. (2015). Forgiveness and mental health. In L. Toussaint, E. Worthington & D. Williams (Eds.), Forgiveness and Health (pp. 77-90). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9993-5_6
Gull, M., & Rana, S. A. (2013). Manifestation of forgiveness, subjective wellbeing and quality of life. Journal of Behavioural Sciences, 23(2), 17-36.
Guzmán, M., Tapia, M. J., Tejada, M., & Valenzuela, K. (2014). Assessment of forgiveness in intimate relationships: Psychometric properties of the Transgression-related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory (TRIM-18) in a Chilean context. Psykhe, 23(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.7764/psykhe.23.2.623
Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1999). Análisis multivariante [Multivariate analysis]. Prentice Hall.
Hanke, K., & Fisher, R. (2012). Socioeconomical and political correlates of interpersonal forgiveness: A three level meta- analysis of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory across 13 societies. International Journal of Psychology, 48(4), 514-526. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207594.2011.651086
Hansen, M. J., Enright, R. D., Klatt, J., & Baskin, T. W. (2009). A palliative care intervention in forgiveness therapy for elderly terminally ill cancer patients. Journal of Palliative Care, 25(1), 51-60. https://doi.org/10.1177/082585970902500106
Hardgrave, T. D. (1994). Families and forgiveness: healing wounds in the intergenerational family. Brunner/Mazel.
Haroon, Z., Iftikhar, R., Kim, J. J., Volk, F., & Enright, R. D. (2021). A randomized controlled trial of a forgiveness intervention program with female acid attack survivors in Pakistan. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 28(4), 917-928. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2545
Harper, Q., Worthington Jr, E. L., Griffin, B. J., Lavelock, C. R., Hook, J. N., Vrana, S. R., & Greer, C. L. (2014). Efficacy of a workbook to promote forgiveness: A randomized controlled trial with university students. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70(12), 1158- 1169. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22079
Kaleta, K., & Mróz, J. (2020). The relationship between basic hope and depression: forgiveness as a mediator. Psychiatric Quarterly, 91(3), 877-886. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-020-09759-w
Kato, T. (2016). Effects of partner forgiveness on romantic break-ups in dating relationships: A longitudinal study. Personality and Individual Differences, 95, 185-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.02.050
Kelley, D. (1998). The communication of forgiveness. Communication Studies, 49(3), 255-271. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510979809368535
Lawler-Row, K. A., Scott, C. A., Raines, R. L., Edlis-Matityahou, M., & Moore, E. W. (2007). The varieties of forgiveness experience: Working toward a comprehensive definition of forgiveness. Journal of Religion and Health, 46(2), 233-248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-006-9077-y
Lee, Y.-R., & Enright, R. D. (2014). A forgiveness intervention for women with fibromyalgia who were abused in childhood: A pilot study. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 1(3), 203–217. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000025
Lee, Y. R., & Enright, R. D. (2019). A meta-analysis of the association between forgiveness of others and physical health. Psychology & Health, 34(5), 626-643. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2018.1554185
Marôco, J. (2014). Análise de equações estruturais: Fundamentos teóricos, software & aplicações [Analysis of structural equations: Theoretical foundations, software & applications]. ReportNumber, Lda.
Markland, D. (2007). The golden rule is that there are no golden rules: A commentary on Paul Barrett’s recommendations for reporting model fit in structural equation modelling. Personality and Individual Differences, 42(5), 851-858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.09.023
Marsh, H. W., Hau, K. T., & Wen, Z. (2004). In search of golden rules: Comment on hypothesis-testing approaches to setting cutoff values for fit indexes and dangers in overgeneralizing Hu and Bentler's (1999) findings. Structural Equation Modeling, 11(3), 320-341. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15328007sem1103_2
Martinez-Diaz, P., Caperos, J. M., Prieto-Ursúa, M., Gismero-González, E., Cagigal, V., & Carrasco, M.J. (2021) Victim's perspective of forgiveness seeking behaviors after transgressions. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 656-689. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.656689
McCullough, M. E., Rachal, K. C., Sandage, S. J., Worthington, E. L., Brown, S. W., & Hight, T. L. (1998). Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships: II. Theoretical elaboration and measurement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1586–1603. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.75.6.1586
McCullough, M. E., Bono, G., & Root, L. M. (2007). Rumination, emotion, and forgiveness: three longitudinal studies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(3), 490-505. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.3.490
McCullough, M. E., Root, L. M., & Cohen, A. D. (2006). Writing about the benefits of an interpersonal transgression facilitates forgiveness. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(5), 887-897. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.5.887
McCullough, M. E., Luna, L. R., Berry, J. W., Tabak, B. A., & Bono, G. (2010). On the form and function of forgiving: modeling the time-forgiveness relationship and testing the valuable relationships hypothesis. Emotion, 10(3), 358-376. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019349
McCullough, M. E., Pedersen, E. J., Tabak, B. A., & Carter, E. C. (2014). Conciliatory gestures promote forgiveness and reduce anger in humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(30), 11211-11216. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1405072111
McElroy-Heltzel, S., Davis, D. E., Ordaz, A. C., Griffin, B. J., & Hook, J. N. (2020). Measuring forgiveness and self-forgiveness: Descriptions, psychometric support, and recommendations for research and practice. In E. L. Worthington, & N. G. Wade (Eds.), Handbook of forgiveness (pp. 74–84). Routledge.
Metts, S., & Cupach, W. R. (2007). Responses to relational transgressions: Hurt, anger, and sometimes forgiveness. In B. H. Spitzberg y W. R. Cupach (Eds.), The dark side of interpersonal communication (pp. 243-274). Lawrence Erlbaum.
Morse, Ch. R., & Metts, S. (2011). Situational and communicative predictors of forgiveness following a relational transgression. Western Journal of Communication, 75(3), 239-258. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2011.571652
Muñiz, J., Elosua, P., & Hambleton, R. K. (2013). Directrices para la traducción y adaptación de los tests: segunda edición [Guidelines for the translation and adaptation of tests: second edition]. Psicothema, 25(2), 151-157. https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2013.24
Nunnally, J., & Bernstein, I. (1994). Psychometric theory. McGraw Hill.
Orcutt, H. K. (2006). The prospective relationship of interpersonal forgiveness and psychological distress symptoms among college women. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(3), 350-361. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.3.350
Paleari, F., Regalia, C., & Fincham, F. (2005). Marital quality, forgiveness, empathy, and rumination: A longitudinal analysis. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 368-378.
Paleari, F. G., Regalia, C., & Fincham, F. D. (2009). Measuring offence-specific forgiveness in marriage: The Marital Offence-specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS). Psychological Assessment, 21(2), 194-209. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016068
Reed, G. L., & Enright, R. D. (2006). The effects of forgiveness therapy on depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress for women after spousal emotional abuse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(5), 920-929. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.5.920
Ruiz, F. J., Martín, M. B. G., Falcón, J. C. S., & González, P. O. (2017). The hierarchical factor structure of the Spanish version of Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 17(1), 97-105. https://www.ijpsy.com/volumen17/num1/460/the-hierarchical-factor-structure-of-the-EN.pdf
Rye, M. S., Loiacono, D. M., Folck, C. D., Olszewski, B. T., Heim, T. A., & Madia, B. P. (2001). Evaluation of the psychometric properties of two forgiveness scales. Current Psychology, 20, 260-277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-001-1011-6
Subkoviak, M., Enright, R., Wu, C. R., Gassin, E., Freedman, S., Olson, L., & Sarinopoulos, I. (1995). Measuring interpersonal forgiveness in late adolescence and middle adulthood. Journal of Adolescence, 18, 641-655. https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.1995.1045
Toussaint, L., & Friedman, P. (2009). Forgiveness, gratitude, and well-being: The mediating role of affect and beliefs. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10(6), 635-654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-008-9111-8
Wade, S. H. (1989). The development of a scale to measure forgiveness [Unpublished doctoral thesis]. Theological Seminary, California.
Wade, N. G., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2005). In search of a common core: A content analysis of interventions to promote forgiveness. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 42(2), 160-177. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.42.2.160
Wade, N. G., & Meyer, J. E. (2009). Comparison of brief group interventions to promote forgiveness: A pilot outcome study. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 59(2), 199-220. https://doi.org/10.1521/ijgp.2009.59.2.199
Waldron, V. R., & Kelley, D. L. (2005). Forgiving communication as a response to relational transgressions. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22(6), 723-742. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407505056445
Weston, R., & Gore, P. A., Jr. (2006). A brief guide to structural equation modeling. The Counseling Psychologist, 34(5), 719-751. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000006286345
Williamson, I. & Gonzales, M.H. (2007). The subjective experience of forgiveness: Positive construals of forgiveness experience. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26 (4), 407-446. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2007.26.4.407
Worthington, E. L., Jr., & Wade, N. G. (1999). The psychology of unforgiveness and forgiveness and implications for clinical practice. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 18(4), 385-418. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.1999.18.4.385
Worthington, E. L., Hook, J. N., Utsey, S. O., Williams, J. K., & Neil, R. L. (2007). Decisional and emotional forgiveness. forgiveness [Paper presentation]. International Positive Psychology Summit.Washington, DC.
Worthington, E. L., Jr., Lavelock, C., van Oyen Witvliet, C., Rye, M. S., Tsang, J.-A., & Toussaint, L. (2015). Measures of forgiveness: Self-report, physiological, chemical, and behavioral indicators. In G. J. Boyle, D. H. Saklofske, & G. Matthews (Eds.), Measures of personality and social psychological constructs (pp. 474–502). Elsevier Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-386915-9.00017-6
Yu, L., Gambaro, M., Song, J. Y., Teslik, M., Song, M., Komoski, M. C., Wollner, B., & Enright, R. D. (2021). Forgiveness therapy in a maximum‐security correctional institution: A randomized clinical trial. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 28(6), 1457-1471. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2583
Záhorcová, L., Enright, R., & Halama, P. (2021). The effectiveness of a forgiveness intervention on mental health in bereaved parents—A pilot study. OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying, 0(0), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211024479
Zumbo, B. D., Gadermann, A. M., & Zeisser, C. (2007). Ordinal versions of coefficients alpha and theta for Likert rating scales. Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods, 6(1), 21-29. https://doi.org/10.22237/jmasm/1177992180
Copyright (c) 2023 Servicio de Publicaciones, University of Murcia (Spain)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The works published in this journal are subject to the following terms:
1. The Publications Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) retains the property rights (copyright) of published works, and encourages and enables the reuse of the same under the license specified in paragraph 2.
© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2022
2. The works are published in the online edition of the journal under a Creative Commons Reconocimiento-CompartirIgual 4.0 (legal text). You can copy, use, distribute, transmit and publicly display, provided that: i) you cite the author and the original source of publication (journal, editorial and URL of the work), ii) are not used for commercial purposes, iii ) mentions the existence and specifications of this license.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
3. Conditions of self-archiving. Is allowed and encouraged the authors to disseminate electronically pre-print versions (version before being evaluated and sent to the journal) and / or post-print (version reviewed and accepted for publication) of their works before publication, as it encourages its earliest circulation and diffusion and thus a possible increase in its citation and scope between the academic community. RoMEO Color: Green.
