Elaine Sue May Tan
The emergence of the field of positive psychology with its advocacy of different beneficial, life-transforming and health-promoting elements has cultivated individual strength and morale in recent years. From the various positive elements under the wide horizon of positive psychology, forgiveness is one element that has gained the interests of researchers and practitioners worldwide in the area of mental health. Does the capacity of forgiveness intertwine with personality? Is forgiveness a significant variable of the mental health for Malaysian? The present study aims to examine the impact of forgiveness on mental health, the difference between self- and other-forgiveness, and the relationship between Big Five Personality and forgiveness measures (self- and other-forgiveness). To test the hypothesis that forgiveness has a significant impact on mental health, and that personality is related to forgiveness, a cross-sectional study involving 185 participants using convenience sampling was conducted. Participants responded to a survey comprising the Big Five Personality Trait Short Questionnaire, Heartland Forgiveness Scale and General Health Questionnaire. The results showed that both self- and other-forgiveness have significant impacts on mental health; and, the Big 5 personality was associated with forgiveness, such that agreeableness, extraversion and openness were positively associated with forgiveness whereas neuroticism was negatively associated with forgiveness, although no association was found between conscientiousness and forgiveness. The findings of this study shed light to the efficacy of existing forgiveness interventions and the incorporation of personality in the practice of psychotherapy