Effect of Forgiveness and Resilience on Mental Health of University Students: Social Support as Mediator and Self-Compassion as Moderator

Abstract

The research aims to find effect of Forgiveness and Resilience on Mental Health of University Students: Social Support as Mediator and Self-Compassion as Moderator. A questionnaire was utilized to collect data in this quantitative study using purposive sampling. The research design used by Purposive sampling technique. A purposive sample of 350 Southern Punjab university students was selected. The Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was constructed using structural equation model (SEM) to examine the association among resilience, forgiveness, mental health inventory, social support, and self-compassion. The internal consistency approach was utilized to ensure scale reliability and validity in this study. Cronbach Alpha ranged from 0.710 to 0.816 for all variables in this study. The direct correlation between forgiveness and mental health is the psychological advantage of forgiveness attitude to alleviate distress and increase well-being. Resilience showed a positive relationship with mental health, suggesting that individuals with greater resilience tend to experience better mental well-being. Social support was found to mediate the relationship between both resilience and mental health, as well as forgiveness and mental health, indicating that beneficial effects of resilience and forgiveness on mental health are partially transmitted through perceived social support. Future studies of resilience, forgiveness, and mental health may address these limitations. Including more populations in the sample may also increase generalizability. Additional moderators and mediators, such as empathy or appreciation, may help us comprehend these relationships.