Original scientific paper

Gender Differences in the Relationship between Forgiveness and Depression/Happiness

Majda Rijavec orcid.org/0000-0001-6361-9968 ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Teacher Education
Lana Jurčec ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Teacher Education
Ivana Mijočević ; OŠ Bartola Kašića, Zagreb

Abstract

Being unable to forgive produces two motivational states: revenge motivation and avoidance motivation. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of gender in the relationship between these two types of motivation and well-being.
The sample consisted of 600 college students. There were 300 females and 300 males who ranged in age from 19 to 28 years. The students responded to two self-report questionnaires. Forgiving was measured with the Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations (TRIM) Inventory, and well-being with Short Depression-Happiness Scale.
Regression analyses showed that both revenge and avoidance motivation were significant predictors of depression for males, while for females only revenge motivation proved to be significant. Neither revenge nor avoidance motivation predicted happiness. It can be concluded that being prone to revenge and avoidance can be related to depression, but that does not mean that less avoidance and revenge will be necessarily related to more happiness.

Keywords

forgiveness; revenge motivation; avoidance motivation; depression; happiness

Hrčak ID:

56835

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/56835

Publication date:

30.6.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 6.442 *