Perceived Stress and Marital Adjustment: The Mediating Role Forgiveness Among Married Men and Women

Abstract

Current research was designed to assess the relationship between perceived stress, forgiveness and marital adjustment among married men and women with mediating role of forgiveness between perceived stress and marital adjustment as well. It was hypothesized that there is likely to be a positive correlation between perceived stress, forgiveness and marital adjustment among married men and women. It was also hypothesized that forgiveness is likely to mediate the relationship between perceived stress and marital adjustment among married men and women. Additionally, it was hypothesized that there is likely to be significant gender differences between perceived stress, forgiveness and marital adjustment. A sample 80 married men and 80 married women (N=160) with intact marriages, during their first 5 years of marriage time span were recruited with snow ball sampling technique. Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983), Heartland Forgiveness Scale (Laura, et al., 2003) and Marital Adjustment Test (Locke & Wallace, 1959) were used for measuring the perceived stress, forgiveness, and marital adjustment respectively. Demographic and correlational analysis, mediation and independent sample t-test were performed. Findings showed that there were significant positive correlations between perceived stress, forgiveness and marital adjustment among married men and women. Further, forgiveness significantly mediated the relationship between perceived stress and marital adjustment. Additionally, there were nonsignificant gender differences in perceived stress and marital adjustment but forgiveness was significantly higher in married men as compared to married women.