Effects of lifetime stress exposure on mental and physical health in young adulthood: How stress degrades and forgiveness protects health.

TitleEffects of lifetime stress exposure on mental and physical health in young adulthood: How stress degrades and forgiveness protects health.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsToussaint L, Shields GS, Dorn G, Slavich GM
JournalJ Health Psychol
Volume21
Issue6
Pagination1004-14
Date Published2016 Jun
ISSN1461-7277
Abstract

To examine risk and resilience factors that affect health, lifetime stress exposure histories, dispositional forgiveness levels, and mental and physical health were assessed in 148 young adults. Greater lifetime stress severity and lower levels of forgiveness each uniquely predicted worse mental and physical health. Analyses also revealed a graded Stress × Forgiveness interaction effect, wherein associations between stress and mental health were weaker for persons exhibiting more forgiveness. These data are the first to elucidate the interactive effects of cumulative stress severity and forgiveness on health, and suggest that developing a more forgiving coping style may help minimize stress-related disorders.

DOI10.1177/1359105314544132
Alternate JournalJ Health Psychol
PubMed ID25139892
PubMed Central IDPMC4363296
Grant ListK08 MH103443 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States