A Comparative Analysis of Forgiveness among Adolescents, Adults and Older People

Abstract

The present study focused on people of three different age groups in relation to forgiveness. It was postulated that there would be a significant difference among adolescents, adults and older people in respect to forgiveness, forgiveness of self, forgiveness of others and forgiveness of situation. One hundred and fifty (n=150) participants including fifty (n=50) adolescents, fifty (n=50) adults and fifty (n=150) older people were selected through referral and respondent-driven sampling. Demographic Information Form (DIF) and Heartland Forgiveness Scale (Thompson et al., 2005) were used to collect research data. One way ANOVA test results reveal a significant difference among three groups. Older participants reported more forgiveness, forgiveness of self, others and situation than adolescents and adults. The present findings have implications for individual, family and society.