An investigation of the mediating role of emotion regulation between guilt and shame and forgiveness in university students

In this study, the mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between guilt and shame and forgiveness was investigated. A total of 436 undergraduate students (219 female and 217 male) between the ages of 18-25 are selected via convenient sampling method participated in the study. Guiltness and Shame Scale, The Heartland Forgiveness Scale, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnare were used in the study. The analyzes revealed that guilt predicted non-adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and forgiveness, However there was no decrease on the predictive effect of guilt on forgiveness, when non-adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies were included in the model as a intermediary variable. As a result, it was seen that non-adaptive strategies did not have a intermediary role on the effect of guilt on forgiveness. It's seen that shame predicted non-adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and forgiveness, and the effect of shame on forgiveness disappeared when non-adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies were assigned as a intermediary variable. As a result, it was concluded that non-adaptive strategies had a intermediary role on the effect of shame on forgiveness. Considering the relationship between guilt, shame and emotion regulation in psycho-educational interventions to be developed about forgiveness may contribute to the more positive results of these interventions by presenting different perspectives.