NEW YORK, Dec 28 (Reuters Health) - To err is human and to forgive
divine, according to the old adage, but humans who forgive are known
to experience significant physical and mental health benefits from
doing so. Now researchers report that these beneficial health effects
appear to vary by age, along with the willingness to forgive others,
the willingness to forgive oneself and the feeling of being forgiven
by God.

"Taken together, our findings emphasize that forgiveness is a
multidimensional phenomenon," write study lead author Dr. Loren L.
Toussaint of the University of Michigan and colleagues. "There are
age differences in some forms of forgiveness and in their
relationship to health."

Their conclusions are based on survey responses from more than 1,400
adults during a 5-month study period.

In general, young adults (18-44 years) reported that they were less
likely to forgive others than middle-aged (45-64) and older adults
(65 and older). They were also less likely than older adults to
believe that they had been forgiven by God, the investigators report
in the Journal of Adult Development.

Among survey participants of all ages, however, reports of
forgiveness of themselves and others were associated with decreased
psychological distress, including feelings of restlessness,
hopelessness and nervousness.

Further, young adults who reported high levels of self-forgiveness
were more likely to be satisfied with their lives, whereas middle age
and older adults who reported high levels of forgiveness of others
were more likely to report increased life satisfaction.

But not all foregiving is immediately beneficial, the findings
suggest. Proactive forgiveness-asking for forgiveness, rather than
granting it--was associated with increased psychological distress
among all study participants. Other acts of proactive forgiveness
would include asking God's forgiveness for hurting someone or praying
for someone who has hurt them.

The researchers speculate that this may be because such proactive
individuals are "'taking the first step' in the process of
forgiveness," which may lead to heightened stress.

In other findings, attendance at religious services was associated
with decreased psychological distress, particularly among young and
middle-aged adults, and increased life satisfaction among young and
old adults. Service attendance was also associated with higher
self-rated health among all age groups.

The study was partly supported by a grant from the National Institute
of Mental Health.

SOURCE: Journal of Adult Development 2001;8:249-257.