Forgiveness and chronic pain: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Pain Management
• Health Science

Background:

• Forgiveness is increasingly recognized for its therapeutic potential in various health conditions.
• Its role in managing chronic pain is an emerging area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on the relationship between forgiveness and chronic pain.
• To synthesize findings regarding how forgiveness impacts pain experience and tolerance.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple electronic databases in July 2019.
• PRISMA guidelines were followed for study selection, including application of inclusion and exclusion criteria.
• Seven relevant papers were identified and reviewed for the final analysis.

Main Results:

• Five of the seven reviewed studies indicated a correlation between lower forgiveness levels and increased pain experience or reduced pain tolerance.
• One study suggested that enhanced empathy, potentially boosted by forgiveness, could improve pain levels.
• A single study found higher pain scores with higher forgiveness, but this was associated with higher attachment anxiety.

Conclusions:

• An association exists between an individual's capacity to forgive and their experience of chronic pain.
• Further investigation is warranted to explore the efficacy of forgiveness as an intervention for individuals with chronic pain.