A change of heart: cardiovascular correlates of forgiveness in response to interpersonal conflict.
Lawler KA, Younger JW, Piferi RL, Billington E, Jobe R, Edmondson K, Jones WH
Journal of behavioral medicine · October 1, 2003
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't🇺🇸United States
One hundred eight college students participated in two interviews about times of interpersonal betrayal, one about a parent and one about a friend/partner. Trait forgiveness was associated with lower levels of blood pressure. State forgiveness was associated with lower blood pressure levels, heart rate, and rate pressure product. Increased blood pressure recovery after stress was also linked to trait forgiveness. Forgiveness may produce beneficial effects directly by reducing allostatic load associated with betrayal and conflict, and indirectly through reductions in perceived stress.
PMID: 14593849
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