Examining the Effects of a Psychoeducation Program Prepared Based on Optimism, Self-Compassion, Altruism, and Gratitude on Forgiveness in Emerging Adults

The aim of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of a psychoeducation program designed based on the variables of optimism, self-compassion, altruism, and gratitude, which are demonstrated under the umbrella of positive psychology, on the forgiveness of emerging-adults towards themselves, others, and situations. An experimental research model was employed to test the effect of the psychoeducation program prepared by the researchers. In the initial stage, a demographic information form and the Heartland Forgiveness Scale were administered to 161 emerging-adults who volunteered to participate, in order to determine which participants would be assigned to the experimental and control groups. Subsequently, two participants of the same gender with very close forgiveness score averages were paired to create 14 pairs. Then, one participant from each pair was randomly assigned to the experimental group and the other to the control group, using the method of matching participants, resulting in the division of participants into experimental and control groups. Non-parametric Mann Whitney U-Test and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test were utilized for data analysis. According to the research results, the experimental group that participated in the forgiveness-focused psychoeducation program, which supported the variables of optimism, self-compassion, altruism, and gratitude, showed a significant positive difference in total forgiveness scores as well as forgiveness towards themselves, others, and situations compared to the control group. This difference in forgiveness scores among emerging-adults in the experimental group was also found to be enduring in the follow-up measurement. In this context, it can be concluded that the variables of optimism, self-compassion, altruism, and gratitude demonstrated under the umbrella of positive psychology can be utilized to enhance forgiveness skills among emerging adults.