Evaluation of Trauma, Forgiveness, and Well-Being Among African Americans

Discrimination and trauma are prevalent experiences among African Americans. In this study, 173 African American adults completed measures on the prevalence of traumatic experiences, trauma symptoms, the process of forgiveness, and well-being. Participants endorsed the occurrence of traumatic events in their lives, associated traumatic symptoms, and the intrapersonal forgiveness process. The hypothesized model of trauma forgiveness and well-being was partially supported. The hypothesized model related to processing forgiveness was evident. However, no relationship was found between trauma symptoms and the initial phase of forgiveness. Furthermore, no relationship was found between the final phase of the forgiveness model and well-being. For African American clients, working through issues of conflict and forgiveness may be a unique process separate and distinct from processing through issues of trauma and well-being.