Understanding Forgiveness through the Application and Extension of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory to Female Caregivers and a Community Sample of Female Spouses

Despite recent increased attention to the construct of forgiveness, measures of forgiveness have been limited by inconsistent use of a single operational definition. One measure of forgiveness, the Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI), has shown strong psychometric properties in numerous studies and across diverse samples. However, limited research has explored the conceptualization and measurement of the forgiveness process with older adults and caregivers. The current study examined the utility of the EFI within a sample of 118 middle-aged and older female spouses, including a subset of dementia family caregivers (n = 29). Participants completed measures of religious coping, depression, state and trait anger, state and trait anxiety, marital satisfaction, and social desirability. They were also asked to provide a detailed written account of a significant transgression by their husband, and completed the EFI in reference to that specific offense. Transgression descriptions were coded for content by two independent raters, to establish the objective characteristics of transgressions that individuals are considering when responding to the EFI. Caregivers also completed measures assessing current levels of strain as a caregiver and regarding their husbands‟ cognitive status. Results indicate that caregivers reported more marital distress and less forgiveness as compared to non-caregivers. Forgiveness was negatively correlated to state anger, depression, and state and trait anxiety among the overall sample. Findings of the current study suggest that the EFI has sound psychometric properties when applied to middleaged and older adult wives in longstanding marriages. The implications of these data for future research on the application of forgiveness to middle-aged and older wives and caregivers are discussed. DeCaporale, Lauren, UMSL, 2011 6 Acknowledgements This research was funded by a Dissertation Research Award (November, 2009) from the Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-St. Louis. Data for this research were collected in collaboration with the St. Louis Alzheimer‟s Association and multiple non-profit online organizations. I extend my sincere thanks to Cheryl Wingbermuehle, Family Services Director of the St. Louis Alzheimer‟s Association, and to all other members of the staff who assisted in the recruitment process. Most importantly, I am very grateful to the wives and family caregivers who were willing to share their time and experiences for the purpose of this dissertation research. Many thanks to Dr. Ann Steffen, my research advisor, teacher, and mentor. You have been a constant source of support and encouragement. I consider myself quite lucky to have had such a wonderful guide throughout graduate school, and am grateful for your dedication and enthusiasm to teaching me in all aspects of my professional development. I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of my dissertation committee: Dr. John Chibnall, Dr. Samuel Marwit, and Dr. Thomas Meuser. This completed manuscript would not have been possible without your insightful suggestions and recommendations from the conception of the initial research proposal to the completion of this study. I would also like to thank my classmates in the Department of Psychology. I am extremely grateful to have found people who challenge me to work harder and inspire me every day. Thank you for your friendship and support throughout graduate school. DeCaporale, Lauren, UMSL, 2011 7 Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to recognize my family for their constant love and support. Mom and Dad, I do not know where I would be today if it had not been for you. Thank you for teaching me the meaning and value of hard work and dedication, and for always encouraging me to dream. To Chris, thank you for knowing when to distract me, when to make me laugh, and when to tell me to sit down and write. DeCaporale, Lauren, UMSL, 2011 8 Understanding Forgiveness through the Application and Extension of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory to Older Adult, Female Caregivers and a Community Sample of Older, Female Spouses Although forgiveness has been explored rather extensively in recent years, it is a construct that requires continued development and exploration amongst unique populations. The construct has been defined in multiple ways, ultimately influencing how psychological research approaches and measures it. To date, several measures of forgiveness have been created, but very few have demonstrated strong psychometric properties and even fewer have been applied to diverse samples. Subsequently, psychological research must enhance the forgiveness literature through the study and extension of its measurement to diverse populations. Such research will allow for a greater understanding of forgiveness, its proposed correlates, and the role of dyadic relationships in the forgiveness process. Transgressions & Unforgiveness Forgiveness can only be considered in the context of a perceived transgression. Transgressions have been defined as the “events that people perceive as violating their expectations and assumptions about how they, other people, or the world „ought to be‟” (Thompson et al., 2005, p. 317). Such violations vary in terms of their severity and the hurt that can result, and may be perceived as far worse when enacted by an individual with whom the offended person feels close. The existing relationship may also influence the forgiveness process as the offended person may be more inclined to forgive if he or she believes that the relationship cannot or should not be terminated, such as that with a spouse. DeCaporale, Lauren, UMSL, 2011 9 Regardless of the above, transgressions frequently result in negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Consequently, individuals may express anger (Enright & Fitzgibbons, 2000) or demonstrate revenge-seeking behaviors (Newberg, d‟Aquili, Newberg, & deMarici, 2000). Such responses reflect awareness that there is dissonance between what one thinks ought to be and what is. A debilitating stress reaction can result from such dissonance, which is considered critical in one‟s movement toward or away from forgiveness. If one ruminates on the negative feelings associated with a transgression, he or she is said to be experiencing unforgiveness and may suffer from ongoing symptoms of psychopathology (Berry & Worthington, 2001; Witvliet, 2001). Defining Forgiveness The understanding of unforgiveness has led researchers to believe that forgiveness must be a process of change that allows one to rid him or herself of the negative thoughts and feelings following a transgression and experience a state of neutrality toward the offender. The forgiveness process is subsequently thought to begin when one recognizes feelings of discomfort following a transgression and confronts the dissonance between what is and what was expected to be (Janoff-Bulman & Frantz, 1997). Though the understanding of unforgiveness has helped frame that of forgiveness, this latter construct remains quite difficult to define. Despite the fact most theorists have agreed that forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation, forgetting, or condoning (Enright & Fitzgibbons, 2000; Harris et al., 2006), the construct has yet to be conceptualized in a unitary fashion (Thompson et al., 2005). Part of the complexity in establishing a single, operational definition may in fact stem from the numerous contexts in which forgiveness is discussed (Toussaint & Webb, 2005). DeCaporale, Lauren, UMSL, 2011 10 Within psychology, it is suggested that forgiveness reflects a change in one‟s response style, such that he or she stops responding negatively and approaches the other in at least a neutral state (Thompson et al., 2005). Specifically, the construct is thought to enhance one‟s ability “to avoid the painful consequences of holding onto the memory of negative emotions associated with resentment” (Newberg et al., 2000, p. 96). Some suggest that in the process of reducing negative emotions, forgiveness not only results in a neutral state but perhaps in more positive or love-based emotions (Worthington & Wade, 1999). However, the relevance of such love-based emotions is sometimes challenged, as they are not deemed a necessary aspect of forgiveness and seem highly context specific (e.g., within families) (Thompson et al., 2005). Regardless of whether one believes these positive, love-based emotions are necessary, most agree that forgiveness is rooted in transformation (Enright & Fitzgibbons, 2000). Subsequently, the process of forgiveness serves as a catalyst for additional changes, altering the intrapersonal feelings and behaviors of the offended individual in a manner that reflects meaningful change in one‟s approach toward the offender (Enright & Fitzgibbons, 2000). Engagement in the forgiveness process, then, is an active choice (Hantman & Cohen, 2010), comprised of multiple components, including neurocognitive and affective processes. It has been suggested that many of these processes are intrapersonal and cannot be directly observed (Thompson et al., 2005). From an intrapersonal perspective, these processes are likely influenced by differences in disposition, with some individuals being more forgiving across situations than others. The overall process of forgiveness allows one to explore the past and present DeCaporale, Lauren, UMSL, 2011 11 relationship with the offender, enabling one to engage in a more thorough analysis of his or her present circumstances in the context of other meaningful relationships. It is unclear how ongoing relationships influence the forgiveness process and to what degree the transgressor can be or should be involved. Specifically, some have argued that because a hurt occurs within a relationship or a dyadic interaction, that the conflict can only be resolved with that relationship in mind (Worthington, 1998). Others argue that the transgressor must be present and