Psychometric properties of the differentiated process scale of self-forgiveness in Spanish population
Self-forgiveness is essential for repairing personal harm, yet its complexity has hindered the development of instruments that assess it as a process. Moreover, few measures have been translated into Spanish. Understanding self-forgiveness requires distinguishing genuine forgiveness, which involves...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2025.2539465 |
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| Summary: | Self-forgiveness is essential for repairing personal harm, yet its complexity has hindered the development of instruments that assess it as a process. Moreover, few measures have been translated into Spanish. Understanding self-forgiveness requires distinguishing genuine forgiveness, which involves emotional resolution, from maladaptive responses such as self-punishment or avoidance. This study aimed to adapt the Differentiated Process Scale of Self-Forgiveness for the Spanish population and examine its psychometric properties. A total of 474 participants (321 women, 63.5%; 153 men, 36.5%) aged 18 to 76 years (M = 38.52; SD = 13.55) completed the adapted scale. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure: Genuine Self-Forgiveness, Self-Punishment, and Pseudo-Forgiveness. Confirmatory factor analysis supported an 12-item version with good fit indices, reliability, and validity. Criterion validity analyses showed that Genuine Self-Forgiveness and Self-Punishment correlated positively with Desire for Reconciliation and Perceived Personal Responsibility, highlighting their relevance in forgiveness-related processes. In contrast, Pseudo-Forgiveness showed negative correlations, suggesting an avoidance function that hinders emotional resolution. These findings emphasize the multidimensional nature of self-forgiveness and the need to differentiate its adaptive and maladaptive components. The adapted scale demonstrated strong psychometric properties and offers a valuable tool for research on forgiveness, emotional regulation, and restorative justice in Spanish-speaking contexts. |
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| ISSN: | 2331-1908 |