Forgiveness in Romantic Relationships : The Moderating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Relationship Between Offense Severity and Post-Offense Distress

This study examines the role of differentiation of self (DoS) in the forgiveness process within romantic relationships, focusing on its moderating function between perceived offense severity and post-offense distress. The sample included 591 Spanish participants aged between 18 and 86 years (M = 42....

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Kasprzak, Agata, Martínez-Díaz, María Pilar, Giráldez, Carlos Alberto Marchena
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Málaga
Repositorio:DDFV. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddfv.ufv.es:10641/6709
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10641/6709
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:differentiation of self
forgiveness
moderation
offense
post‐offense distress
romantic relationship
Differentiation of self
Forgiveness
Moderation
Post-offense distress
Romantic relationship
Offense
Social Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Yes
yes
id ES_635e9bc954f08b80fc2bb21f4e168c67
oai_identifier_str oai:ddfv.ufv.es:10641/6709
network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
repository_id_str
spelling Forgiveness in Romantic Relationships : The Moderating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Relationship Between Offense Severity and Post-Offense DistressKasprzak, AgataMartínez-Díaz, María PilarGiráldez, Carlos Alberto Marchenadifferentiation of selfforgivenessmoderationoffensepost‐offense distressromantic relationshipDifferentiation of selfForgivenessModerationPost-offense distressRomantic relationshipOffenseSocial PsychologyClinical PsychologySocial Sciences (miscellaneous)YesyesThis study examines the role of differentiation of self (DoS) in the forgiveness process within romantic relationships, focusing on its moderating function between perceived offense severity and post-offense distress. The sample included 591 Spanish participants aged between 18 and 86 years (M = 42.66, SD = 17.06), and data were collected using validated questionnaires. Findings showed that DoS significantly moderates the relationship between offense severity and negative affect, negative cognition, and avoidance/resentment, but not with the positive dimensions of forgiveness (positive affect, benevolence, or positive behavior). Individuals with low levels of DoS experienced higher emotional distress after an offense, whereas those with high levels showed greater emotional regulation and a more realistic perception of the severity of the situation. These results highlight the importance of DoS as a regulatory resource for managing negative emotional responses but not necessarily as a promoter of prosocial attitudes or reconciliation. Results suggest that strengthening DoS in couples may help reduce the emotional burden of interpersonal transgressions. Future research could contribute longitudinal designs and dyadic analyses to capture the dynamic nature of forgiveness in romantic relationships.Facultad de Educación y PsicologíaDieta, Salud Planetaria y RendimientoNEPSI - Neuropsicología20252025-12-0120252025-12-01journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/10641/6709reponame:DDFV. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Francisco de Vitoriainstname:Universidad de MálagaInglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:ddfv.ufv.es:10641/67092026-06-11T12:44:57Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Forgiveness in Romantic Relationships : The Moderating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Relationship Between Offense Severity and Post-Offense Distress
title Forgiveness in Romantic Relationships : The Moderating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Relationship Between Offense Severity and Post-Offense Distress
spellingShingle Forgiveness in Romantic Relationships : The Moderating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Relationship Between Offense Severity and Post-Offense Distress
Kasprzak, Agata
differentiation of self
forgiveness
moderation
offense
post‐offense distress
romantic relationship
Differentiation of self
Forgiveness
Moderation
Post-offense distress
Romantic relationship
Offense
Social Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Yes
yes
title_short Forgiveness in Romantic Relationships : The Moderating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Relationship Between Offense Severity and Post-Offense Distress
title_full Forgiveness in Romantic Relationships : The Moderating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Relationship Between Offense Severity and Post-Offense Distress
title_fullStr Forgiveness in Romantic Relationships : The Moderating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Relationship Between Offense Severity and Post-Offense Distress
title_full_unstemmed Forgiveness in Romantic Relationships : The Moderating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Relationship Between Offense Severity and Post-Offense Distress
title_sort Forgiveness in Romantic Relationships : The Moderating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Relationship Between Offense Severity and Post-Offense Distress
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Kasprzak, Agata
Martínez-Díaz, María Pilar
Giráldez, Carlos Alberto Marchena
author Kasprzak, Agata
author_facet Kasprzak, Agata
Martínez-Díaz, María Pilar
Giráldez, Carlos Alberto Marchena
author_role author
author2 Martínez-Díaz, María Pilar
Giráldez, Carlos Alberto Marchena
author2_role author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Facultad de Educación y Psicología
Dieta, Salud Planetaria y Rendimiento
NEPSI - Neuropsicología
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv differentiation of self
forgiveness
moderation
offense
post‐offense distress
romantic relationship
Differentiation of self
Forgiveness
Moderation
Post-offense distress
Romantic relationship
Offense
Social Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Yes
yes
topic differentiation of self
forgiveness
moderation
offense
post‐offense distress
romantic relationship
Differentiation of self
Forgiveness
Moderation
Post-offense distress
Romantic relationship
Offense
Social Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Yes
yes
description This study examines the role of differentiation of self (DoS) in the forgiveness process within romantic relationships, focusing on its moderating function between perceived offense severity and post-offense distress. The sample included 591 Spanish participants aged between 18 and 86 years (M = 42.66, SD = 17.06), and data were collected using validated questionnaires. Findings showed that DoS significantly moderates the relationship between offense severity and negative affect, negative cognition, and avoidance/resentment, but not with the positive dimensions of forgiveness (positive affect, benevolence, or positive behavior). Individuals with low levels of DoS experienced higher emotional distress after an offense, whereas those with high levels showed greater emotional regulation and a more realistic perception of the severity of the situation. These results highlight the importance of DoS as a regulatory resource for managing negative emotional responses but not necessarily as a promoter of prosocial attitudes or reconciliation. Results suggest that strengthening DoS in couples may help reduce the emotional burden of interpersonal transgressions. Future research could contribute longitudinal designs and dyadic analyses to capture the dynamic nature of forgiveness in romantic relationships.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025-12-01
2025
2025-12-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv journal article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/10641/6709
url https://hdl.handle.net/10641/6709
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DDFV. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
instname:Universidad de Málaga
instname_str Universidad de Málaga
reponame_str DDFV. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
collection DDFV. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
_version_ 1869409567455051777
score 15.81155

Similares en LA Referencia