PRONENESS TO FORGIVENESS OF THE SITUATIONS AND ITS ROLE IN OVERCOMING LIFE DIFFICULTIES

The purpose of the study was to empirically test the role of proneness to forgiveness of the situations in overcoming life difficulties. Design and Methods. The following questionnaires were used: “Heartland Forgiveness Scale” (HFS) by L. Thompson, C. Snyder, and L. Hoffman, “Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations” (CISS) by N. Endler and J. Parker; “Ways of Coping” by R. Lazarus and S. Folkman; “Proactive Coping Inventory” (PCI) by E. Greenglass, R. Schwarzer, and S. Taubert; “The Self-handicapping Scale” by F. Rhodewalt; “Psychological Wellbeing Scale” C. Ryff; “Positive and Negative Affect Schedule” (PANAS) by D. Watson, L. A. Clark, and A. Tellegen; “The Satisfaction with Life Scale” by E. Diener; “Social Well-being Scale” by C. Keyes, and “Mental Health Continuum – Short Form” by C. Keyes. Results. People with the higher level of proneness to forgiveness of situations are characterized by higher levels of positive reappraisal and proactive coping as well as lower levels of emotional-focused coping and self-handicapping. They also possess higher levels of psychological, subjective, and social well-being, posing themselves at the upper pole of the mental health continuum. Implications. The proneness to forgiveness of situations is proved to play a significant role in overcoming life difficulties.