Understanding forgiveness in adolescents: the role of religiosity, self-esteem, and empathy with social support as a moderator

  • Heny Susilawati 
    Universitas Negeri Semarang
    Indonesia
  • DYP Sugiharto
    Universitas Negeri Semarang
    Indonesia
  • Sunawan Sunawan
    Universitas Negeri Semarang
    Indonesia
  • Heru Mugiarso
    Universitas Negeri Semarang
    Indonesia

Abstract

Forgiveness is a complex psychological and spiritual process that is very important in the lives of adolescents who are full of interpersonal dynamics and the search for self-identity. This study aims to understand how religiosity, self-esteem, and empathy contribute to the tendency to forgive in adolescents, and how social support moderates this relationship. In the context of Indonesian culture, religious values are often the foundation for moral decision-making, including in the forgiveness process. High self-esteem allows adolescents to respond to interpersonal conflicts with better emotional regulation, while empathy opens up a space for understanding the motives of others that allows forgiveness to develop. This study uses a qualitative approach with a systematic literature study method, reviewing relevant scientific publications from 2013–2023 from various leading academic databases. The results of the review indicate that the three psychosocial variables—religiosity, self-esteem, and empathy—have a positive relationship with forgiveness, and this effect is strengthened by the presence of social support from family, peers, and teachers. Social support acts as a moderator that strengthens the relationship between variables by creating a sense of security, acceptance, and emotional validation that supports the forgiveness process. These findings emphasize the importance of a holistic approach and community-based interventions in developing character education programs for adolescents. This article provides a strong conceptual basis for educators, counselors, and policy makers to build strategies that support the development of forgiveness capacity among Indonesian adolescents.

Keywords
  • Adolescent Forgiveness
  • Religiosity
  • Social Support
Lisensing Information
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References
  1. Aliyah, N. A., Winta, M. V. I., & Erlangga, E. (2024). Pengaruh Dukungan Sosial Teman Sebaya Terhadap Harga Diri Pada Santri. Jurnal Cahaya Mandalika ISSN 2721-4796 (Online), 5(1), 158–165.
  2. Booth, A., James, M.-S., Clowes, M., & Sutton, A. (2021). Systematic approaches to a successful literature review.
  3. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Thematic analysis: A practical guide.
  4. Caprara, G. V., Alessandri, G., Barbaranelli, C., & Vecchione, M. (2013). The longitudinal relations between self-esteem and affective self-regulatory efficacy. Journal of Research in Personality, 47(6), 859–870.
  5. Crone, E. A., & Fuligni, A. J. (2020). Self and others in adolescence. Annual Review of Psychology, 71(1), 447–469.
  6. Davis, M. H. (1983). Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44(1), 113.
  7. Enright, R. D., & Fitzgibbons, R. P. (2015). Forgiveness therapy: An empirical Guide For Resolving Anger and Restoring hope, Forgiveness therapy: An empirical Guide For Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, US. American Psychological Association Washington, DC, US.
  8. Ewin, D. M. (2004). Helping Clients Forgive: An Empirical Guide for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope. RD Enright and RP Fitzgibbons, Editors. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC (2002). xiii+ 376 Pages. $39.95. Taylor & Francis.
  9. 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.
  10. Horowski, J., & Kowalski, M. (2022). Human Health and Christianity in the Context of the Dilemma of Forgiveness. Journal of Religion and Health, 61(2), 1282–1299.
  11. Kardaş, S. (2023). A Comprehensive Review of Forgiveness Interventions in Türkiye. Journal of Human and Social Sciences, 6(2), 289–321.
  12. Karremans, J. C., & Van Lange, P. A. M. (2004). Back to caring after being hurt: The role of forgiveness. European Journal of Social Psychology, 34(2), 207–227.
  13. Kathryn, S., Permanasari, S., Yonathan, R., & Purba, R. (2021). Kekuatan pengampunan: pengaruh ajaran kristen tentang pengampunan terhadap resiliensi personal. Matheo: Jurnal Teologi/Kependetaan, 11(1), 13–28.
  14. Latifannisa, M. F., & Agustina, M. W. (2024). The Relationship of Self-Compassion with Forgiveness in Teenage Victims of Divorce in Indramayu. IJIP: Indonesian Journal of Islamic Psychology, 6(1), 38–48.
  15. Lawler-Row, K. A., & Piferi, R. L. (2006). The forgiving personality: Describing a life well lived? Personality and Individual Differences, 41(6), 1009–1020.
  16. Maltby, J., Macaskill, A., & Day, L. (2001). Failure to forgive self and others: A replication and extension of the relationship between forgiveness, personality, social desirability and general health. Personality and Individual Differences, 30(5), 881–885.
  17. McCullough, M. E., & Worthington Everett L, J. (1999). Religion and the forgiving personality. Journal of Personality, 67(6), 1141–1164.
  18. McCullough, M. E., Worthington Jr, E. L., & Rachal, K. C. (1997). Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(2), 321.
  19. Najich, M. A., Rahman, D. H., Atmoko, A., Setiyani, O. D., & Elsanadia, O. (2024). The contribution of self-efficacy, self-esteem, social support, and self-concept to social anxiety of high school students in Malang city. ProGCouns: Journal of Professionals in Guidance and Counseling, 5(2).
  20. Nashori, F., Iskandar, T. Z., Setiono, K., Siswadi, A. G. P., & Andriansyah, Y. (2020). Religiosity, interpersonal attachment, and forgiveness among the Javanese population in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 23(2), 99–112.
  21. Nashori, F., Wijaya, H. E., & Diana, R. R. (2023). Understanding forgiveness among Minangnese ethnicity: The effect of religiosity, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Psikologika: Jurnal Pemikiran Dan Penelitian Psikologi, 28(1), 115–132.
  22. Nussbaum, M. C. (2016). Anger and forgiveness: Resentment, generosity, justice. Oxford University Press.
  23. Orth, U., & Robins, R. W. (2014). The development of self-esteem. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(5), 381–387.
  24. Pargament, K. I. (2011). Spiritually integrated psychotherapy: Understanding and addressing the sacred. Guilford press.
  25. Pradinavika, R., & Baiduri, I. (2023). The Effect of Social Support on Adolescent Self-esteem. INSPIRATIF: Journal of Educational Psychology, 2(1), 1–5.
  26. Rachman, Y. A., Sumarwan, U., Latifah, M., & Herawati, T. (2024). The relationship of parent-child attachment and religiosity to improving adolescent self-esteem. Jurnal Konseling Dan Pendidikan, 12(4), 293–304.
  27. Reitz, A. K. (2022). Self‐esteem development and life events: A review and integrative process framework. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 16(11), e12709.
  28. Scherer, M., Cooke, K. L., & Worthington Jr, E. L. (2007). Forgiveness bibliography. In Handbook of forgiveness (pp. 531–580). Routledge.
  29. Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339.
  30. Strelan, P., & Zdaniuk, A. (2015). Threatened state self-esteem reduces forgiveness. Self and Identity, 14(1), 16–32.
  31. Susanti, R. (2024). Pengaruh program pendidikan berkarakter terhadap pembentukan sikap empati siswa Sekolah Dasar. Jurnal Review Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran (JRPP), 7(1), 2291–2302.
  32. Theodora, M., Sahrani, R., & Roswiyani, R. (2023). The mediating effect of forgiveness on the relationship between spirituality and psychological well-being in adults with history of childhood bullying. Psikohumaniora: Jurnal Penelitian Psikologi, 8(2), 241–258.
  33. Thompson, L. Y., Snyder, C. R., Hoffman, L., Michael, S. T., Rasmussen, H. N., Billings, L. S., Heinze, L., Neufeld, J. E., Shorey, H. S., & Roberts, J. C. (2005). Dispositional forgiveness of self, others, and situations. Journal of Personality, 73(2), 313–360.
  34. Toussaint, L., & Webb, J. R. (2005). Theoretical and empirical connections between forgiveness, mental health, and well-being. Handbook of Forgiveness, 349–362.
  35. Walton, G. M., & Cohen, G. L. (2011). A brief social-belonging intervention improves academic and health outcomes of minority students. Science, 331(6023), 1447–1451.
  36. Wibowo, M. E., & Naini, R. (2021). Self-compassion and forgiveness among senior high school students: A correlational and comparative study. Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal, 4(1), 91–97.
  37. Worthington, E. L., & Scherer, M. (2004). Forgiveness is an emotion-focused coping strategy that can reduce health risks and promote health resilience: Theory, review, and hypotheses. Psychology & Health, 19(3), 385–405.
  38. Yuli, R. R., & Pramudiani, D. (2020). Pemaafan Menuju Rekonsiliasi: Forgiveness Toward Reconciliation. Jurnal Psikologi Jambi, 5(1), 37–42.
  39. Zechmeister, J. S., & Romero, C. (2002). Victim and offender accounts of interpersonal conflict: autobiographical narratives of forgiveness and unforgiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(4), 675.

Downloads

PDF

Statistic

Abstract Views
: 55 times
PDF
: 25 times