A Comparison of Childhood Psychological Maltreatment, Current Trauma Symptoms, and Levels of Forgiveness in Incarcerated Individuals

This study compared trends in forgiveness among incarcerated adults and investigated whether experiences of childhood psychological maltreatment play a role in the process of forgiveness among this population. Incarcerated men and women from two different city jails participated in this study by completing questionnaires assessing forgiveness, childhood maltreatment, and current trauma symptoms. Incarcerated females constituted Study 1, and incarcerated males constituted Study 2. Data was analyzed using correlational and regressional analyses. It was hypothesized that, in both studies, the childhood psychological maltreatment and current trauma symptoms would be negatively related to forgiveness, while there would be a positive relationship between childhood psychological maltreatment and current trauma symptoms. Significant relationships were found to exist between childhood psychological maltreatment and forgiveness, current trauma symptoms and forgiveness, and childhood psychological maltreatment and current trauma symptoms for Study 1. A significant relationship was found to exist between childhood psychological maltreatment and current trauma symptoms in Study 2; however, no significant relationships were found between childhood psychological maltreatment and forgiveness and between current trauma symptoms and forgiveness. Furthermore, gender differences in experiences of childhood psychological maltreatment and in the relationship between childhood psychological maltreatment and forgiveness were to be examined; however, significant group differences between the male and female samples precluded direct comparison of the two samples. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research of this study are discussed.