The Utility of Forgiveness as an Emotion-Focused Coping Strategy

1. The Utility of Forgiveness as an Emotion-Focused Coping Strategy Kimberly Jorgensen, MA & Loren Toussaint, PhD1 University of North Dakota, Luther College1 Proximal Stressa One’s internal conflict with dimensions of identity. People with minority identity statuses experience this conflict as a result of internalized negative social messages about their identity or behaviors. Introduction The overall purpose of the proposed project is to examine the diverse ways in which forgiveness is thought to be a factor protective of mental health and well-being. Within stress and coping literature, forgiveness has been described as an emotion-focused coping strategy (Worthington & Scherer, 2004) best used in instances where interpersonal hurts occur. The opportunities for coping with interpersonal stress through forgiveness are plentiful and varied. These include situations where co-workers, family, significant others, and religious persons may be the perpetrators of transgressions. Due to a host of different factors, victims are often required or desire to maintain an ongoing relationship with the transgressor. Coping through forgiveness offers one option for decreasing future interpersonal stress and increasing the likelihood of reestablishing a successful relationship. These are often the circumstances in which lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals find themselves; and, while potentially controversial, forgiveness offers a particularly potent coping response to the acute stresses and strains of conflictual interactions, prejudicial attitudes, and discriminatory behaviors. The Stress Model It has been well-established that interpersonal stress leads to poor health outcomes (DeLongis, Folkman, & Lazarus, 1988; Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983). In addition to general stress, other unique types of stress have been shown to be a part of the experience of individuals with minority and multiple minority identity statuses (Troxel, Matthews, & Bromberger, 2003). Adapted from the work of Dohrenwend (2000), Meyer (2003) proposes a model of minority stress applicable to the experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Minority stress is “unique,” or beyond the stress expected for any human, “chronic,” or continuous and constant, and “socially based,” or embedded within society (Meyer, p. 676). Two main variables hypothesized to mitigate the effects of minority stress for LGB individuals are social support and individual resilience factors (DiPlacido, 1998). Regarding stress and coping, Szymanski and Owens (2008) investigated avoidant versus problem-focused styles and found only avoidant coping to partially mediate the association between internalized heterosexism and psychological distress. Similar work by this research team highlights that internalized heterosexism is detrimental to positive coping mechanisms with the likely result of decreased well-being for LGB people (Szymanski, Kashubeck-West, & Meyer, 2008). Szymanski and Owens suggest that therapeutic interventions aimed at mitigating internalized heterosexism might lead to reductions in avoidant coping. The ForgivenessFactor While a majority of forgiveness research is cross-sectional and correlational in nature, findings imply that forgiveness may play a “protective” role or serve as a buffer against negative outcomes in a variety of situations. Worthington and Scherer (2004) believe that forgiveness is best classified as an emotion-focused strategy that, based on the work of Richard Lazarus, is useful in coping with stressors that are outside the control of the individual. The proposed study therefore hypothesizes that forgiveness may be particularly effective when interpersonal hurts are related to interlocking systems of oppression, including the unique stresses experienced by LGB individuals and communities. Given the initial evidence supporting the role of forgiveness in mitigating the harmful effects of stress on mental health, this presentation demonstrates an application of forgiveness as an emotion-focused coping mechanism in Meyer’s (2003) model of minority stress. By focusing on forgiveness-based, emotion-focused coping, we afford therapists and their clients another option in coping with homophobia, biphobia and other sexual prejudice. As noted above, key ingredients in successful adaptation for LGB people is the ability to maintain resilience and to garner adequate social support. Forgiveness can play potentially significant roles in fostering both of these aspects of successful coping as it has been shown to decrease mental illness symptoms, and increase both happiness and social support. To the extent that counselors can encourage and educate clients in ways of becoming more forgiving, clients may reap the resilience and support benefits that are critical to their successful coping. Mental Health and Well-Being Sexual Minority Identity Identity – core dimensions of self as sexual being Outness – degree to which others are aware of sexual orientation Coping Through Forgiveness Mitigates the effect of stressors on health and well-being when direct forms of coping are impossible or cumbersome (e.g., changing institutional oppression). Distal Stressb The experience of external hurts inflicted by others in response to (stigmatized) identity. People with minority identity statuses experience these hurts when others are aware of their sexual orientation identity (Outness). aExamples: Avoidance of coming out, expectations of rejection or physical harm, shame or guilt associated with sexual orientation identity, hypervigilence about being “read” as LGB/queer bExamples: Negative parental responses to coming out, rejection or non-affirmation by religious persons or bodies, employment discrimination References Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 385-396. DeLongis, A., Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1988). The impact of daily stress on health and mood: Psychological and social resources as mediators. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 486-495. DiPlacido, J. (1998). Minority stress among lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals: A consequence of heterosexism, homophobia, and stigmatization. In G. M. 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