Global study links forgiving others to small gains in overall well-being
Mar 9th 2026
A two-wave analysis of 207,919 people in 23 countries finds a general tendency to forgive others predicts small improvements in psychological, social, and prosocial outcomes one year later, though effects are modest, vary by country, and do not prove causation.
- Study of 207,919 adults from 23 nationally representative samples used two survey waves about one year apart.
- Higher dispositional forgivingness predicted small but widespread improvements in multidimensional well-being after one year.
- Strongest associations were with psychological and social well-being, including optimism, sense of purpose, and relationship satisfaction.
- Forgivingness was also associated with character and prosocial behaviors such as gratitude and an orientation to promote good.
- Associations with physical health and socioeconomic outcomes were weak or inconsistent.
- Effects varied across countries, with stronger links in the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom and weaker links in Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt.
- The study is observational, relied on self reports, and found small effects, so it cannot establish that forgiveness causes better well-being.
- Authors say forgiveness could be a low-cost public health ingredient if promoted in ways that fit local cultural and socioeconomic contexts.