INTRODUCTION​

In Peru, the most frequently diagnosed mental health problem is anxiety, affecting 28.81% of the population, followed by depression, at 17.57 %. Both disorders are most common in the adult population (35.18 %) and young people (22.17 %). ⁽¹⁾

From a psychological perspective, both depression and anxiety are often related to difficulty finding a purpose in life; ⁽²⁾ this situation negatively impacts physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being. ⁽³⁾

In this framework, human beings are constantly seeking coherence, meaning, and purpose that allows them to give meaning to their existence. ⁽⁴⁾ Such search is conceived as an inherent need of the individual, which can be developed both individually, ⁽⁵⁾ and in interaction with their social environment ^(6,7) In this sense, the purpose fulfills the function of guiding integral growth ⁽⁸⁾ and is expressed through optimism, faith, spirituality, ⁽⁹⁾ as well as hope, responsibility and proactivity, ⁽¹⁰⁾ constituting a key motivational factor to achieve goals and strengthen decision making. ⁽¹¹⁾

On the contrary, when a person lacks a sense of purpose in life, the risk of developing various psychological disorders increases ^(2,12), such as noogenic neurosis ^(13), suicidal behavior, addiction to smartphones ^(14), or online games. ⁽¹⁵⁾ In addition, they may adopt dysfunctional values ⁽¹⁰⁾ and experience existential voids characterized by pessimism, hopelessness, and conformism ^(16), which limits their ability to make positive changes in their lives. ⁽¹⁷⁾ Likewise, people who have grown up with absent parents tend to face greater difficulties in finding a sense of purpose in life as adults, as they often experience deep feelings of loneliness. ⁽¹⁸⁾

In this regard, a study conducted in Poland revealed that experiencing God's presence plays a significant role in building meaning in life. ⁽¹⁹⁾ Similarly, it was shown that this experience is positively and significantly associated with the search for life purpose. ⁽²⁰⁾

On the other hand, in Australia, it was found that religious faith has a favorable effect on youth, directly influencing their personal growth. ⁽²¹⁾ During this period, young people explore their place in the world, trying out different roles they would like to play; however, they often face events that can transform their lives positively or negatively. ⁽⁹⁾

In this context, religion emerges as an integral component, ⁽¹¹⁾ fulfilling various essential functions ⁽²²⁾ through which young people can find a profound meaning in their existence. ⁽²³⁾ Indeed, religious faith plays a vital role in psychological well-being, ⁽²⁴⁾ as it acts as a coping mechanism that provides hope and guides the definition of life goals. ⁽²⁵⁾

Likewise, religiosity is related to the capacity to forgive and is closely connected to the meaning of life. ⁽⁵⁾ Forgiveness, conceived as a conscious decision, allows us to free ourselves from negative emotions ⁽²⁶⁾ and promotes reconciliation, creating opportunities to overcome bitterness and foster healthy interpersonal relationships. ⁽¹⁹⁾ In this way, the willingness to forgive could constitute a bridge between religious faith and the meaning of life. ⁽²³⁾

In Spain, research has shown that forgiveness, spirituality, and religiosity are associated with the design of effective psychological interventions aimed at enhancing personal well-being. ⁽²⁷⁾ In contrast, when the willingness to forgive is low, an increase in guilt levels is observed. ⁽²⁸⁾

The present study analyzed these variables in a specific age group, thereby expanding knowledge in a field that has so far received little attention. The results and conclusions obtained will serve as a basis for future research, thereby contributing to the development of studies at regional, national, and international levels.

Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine whether the likelihood of granting forgiveness and religious faith predict the meaning of life among young people and adults in the San Martín region.

METHODOLOGY

This research is of an empirical, non-experimental type, employing an associative approach, specifically a cross-sectional predictive study, as the functional relationship between variables was analyzed to predict a criterion variable from one or more factors. ⁽²⁹⁾

For participant selection, non-probability convenience sampling was used, selecting participants deemed most suitable by the research team. The inclusion criteria were: being between 18 and 30 years old, belonging to a Christian religion, and completing the entire questionnaire. Those who did not meet the established age range and those who were foreigners were excluded.

A total of 756 young people and adults from the San Martín region were surveyed. Of these, 69 did not profess any religion, 31 were outside the age range, and 23 decided not to participate in the study, resulting in a final sample of 633 people. 56.4 % of the participants were women between 18 and 30 years old (M = 21.5; SD = 3.5). The majority were single (74.7 %), had higher education (63.2 %), resided in urban areas (67.5 %), and identified as Seventh-day Adventists (58.6 %). Furthermore, 35.9% of participants frequently attended religious programs and activities.

The Meaning of Life (MLQ) instrument was used, developed in the United States by ^(30), and adapted for use in Spanish in Argentina^. Additionally, it was adapted and validated for use with young people and adults aged 18 to 40 in Peru. ⁽³²⁾

This questionnaire consists of ten items, presenting seven Likert-type response categories, from 1 to 7: 1) Absolutely false and 7) Absolutely true. They are composed of two dimensions: the presence of meaning and the search for meaning. Regarding its psychometric properties, the scale has validity based on its internal structure (CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.09), and it presents adequate levels of internal consistency for the dimensions of presence of meaning (α = 0.78) and search for meaning (α = 0.80).

In addition to the scale of probability of forgiveness, created by Rye, Loiacono, Folck, Olszewski, Heim, and Madia. ⁽³³⁾ in Argentina. Adapted and validated in Peru by Caycho Tet., al ⁽³⁴⁾ for young people aged 16 to 30, it consists of 8 items and is unidimensional. It presents a Likert-type score with 5 response categories, ranging from 1 ("not at all likely") to 5 ("completely likely"). The instrument showed validity in its internal structure with the following results: χ2 = 35.133, gl = 18; χ2/df = 1.952; CFI = .988; RMSEA = .044 [90% CI .021, .065]; SRMR = .0266; and AIC = 71.133. and reliability, as indicated by the omega coefficient of 0.83.

The Saint Clare Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire, created by Plante, Boccaccini ⁽³⁵⁾ adapted for Peruvian adolescents and adults by, ⁽³⁶⁾ is unidimensional consisting of 10 items with 4 Likert-type response options, ranging from 1 ("totally disagree") to 4 ("totally agree"), who reported favorable results in terms of validity (χ2 = 67.10; gl = 35; p = 0.001; CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.99; RMSEA = 0.089) and reliability (α = 0.98; ω = 0.98).

For data processing, Microsoft Excel was used for data treatment, including recoding, eliminating missing data, and calculating variables. Additionally, IBM SPSS Statistics V.29.0 was used for variable correlation, and Jamovi (v.1.2.2t7) was used for linear regression.

First, a goodness-of-fit test was performed to assess the normality of the data, using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov-Lilliefors (KSL) test, a modification of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test that is recommended due to the latter's limitations, such as the tendency to over-accept the null hypothesis. ⁽³⁷⁾

Subsequently, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used, since the variables presented a normal distribution. ⁽³⁸⁾

The research was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Peruvian Union University, following Resolution No. 0108-T-2024/UPeU-FCS-C. Data collection was conducted using online forms. In the first part, participants were informed of the research objectives. They were also asked for their informed consent. Their participation was voluntary, and they could stop answering the questionnaires at any time if they did not wish to continue. The data were treated confidentially and anonymously and used exclusively for the present research. The authors of this research declare no conflicts of interest.

RESULTS

The descriptive analysis of the study variables is presented below. The skewness and kurtosis coefficients of the variables indicate that the sample is parametric, as they do not exceed the range of ±1.5. ⁽³⁹⁾

Regarding the difference according to sex, there are statistically significant differences between meaning of life (M=52.04) (t = -2.5, p = 0.01) and religious faith (M=84.74) (t = -2.07, p = 0.03) where women have a higher mean with a weak effect size, however, no significant difference was found according to sex in the probability of forgiveness (d = -0.2; -0.1).

t-value (Student's t statistic), p-value, cohen’s d (effect size) for D1.

The results of the correlation analysis show a positive and significant relationship between variables related to meaning in life, likelihood of forgiveness, and religious faith. The effect size between meaning in life and religious faith (r = 0.879; p>*) is significant, while the effect size between likelihood of forgiveness and religious faith (r = 0.199*) is small.

*. The correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (two-tailed).

**. The correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (two-tailed).

The results of the linear regression analysis indicate a satisfactory fit of the model (F test = 2149.388, p < 0.000b), in which religious faith (β = 0.879, p < 0.000) significantly predicts the meaning of life of participants in the San Martín region (adjusted R 2 = 0.773). The R-squared value indicates that the regression model has a high effect size, that is, religious faith predicts 77 % of the meaning of life. Furthermore, the t-values of the beta regression coefficients for the predictor variable are highly significant (p < 0.000).

Dependent variable = Meaning of life (F test = 2149.388, p<.000b; adjusted R² = 0.773).

B: unstandardized coefficient; SE: standard error; β: regression coefficient, t: de Student.

DISCUSSION

In recent decades, psychology has initiated research on the search for meaning in life in individuals. ⁽⁴⁰⁾ In this context, forgiveness and religiosity are proposed as potential mediators to achieve this meaning. ⁽²³⁾ Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether the probability of forgiveness and religious faith predict the meaning of life in young people and adults in the San Martín region.

The comparative results indicate that there are no significant differences in the likelihood of forgiveness based on gender, which is consistent with the findings of Seyma, Soyer, and Mustafa. ⁽⁴¹⁾ This suggests that, at least in this sample, forgiveness is perceived as a personal trait and part of the lifestyle of both sexes. Furthermore, previous research has shown that religious individuals are more willing to acknowledge their mistakes, ⁽⁴²⁾ although some studies also suggest that religious women tend to forgive more than men. ⁽⁴³⁾

Regarding religious faith by sex, a statistically significant difference in favor of women was observed, consistent with previous findings. ^{(21,44,45,46,47)} One possible explanation is that women attend religious services more frequently and participate more actively in them. ⁽⁴⁸⁾ In contrast, men tend to live their faith more intellectually and are less likely to share their religious beliefs. ⁽⁴⁹⁾ However, the suggestions made by Tamayo, Rungduin, and Rungduin. ⁽⁵¹⁾ who maintains that regardless of sex, the older the age, the more likely one is to forgive, possibly due to maturity and life experience.

Concerning the meaning of life according to sex, a significant difference was also found in favor of women. Along the same lines, ⁽⁵²⁾ reported that 31.57 % of women reported a sense of life compared to 16.87 % of men. This could be because women tend to interact more with their social environment, where they find biopsychosocial support. However, a study by Lelek, Szczygieł ⁽⁵³⁾ revealed that men, compared to women, had a greater sense of purpose in life. This reinforces the idea that the search for purpose is a natural and inherent part of the human experience, capable of opening up opportunities and addressing personal challenges.

Regarding the correlation analysis, statistically significant relationships were identified between meaning in life, the likelihood of forgiveness, and religious faith. Although the correlation between meaning in life and forgiveness was substantial, the effect size was very weak. Some studies^{(42, 54, 55)} argue that forgiveness significantly influences the meaning of life since it relieves emotional burdens, strengthens interpersonal bonds, fosters personal growth, and improves mental health, thereby contributing to a fuller and more meaningful life. ^(56,57)

Likewise, a significant relationship was found between religious faith and the likelihood of forgiveness, which aligns with studies indicating that people with religious beliefs tend to experience less anger and resentment, and show a greater willingness to forgive. ⁽⁵⁸⁾ In other words, a deeper faith in God is often related to a lower propensity to hold a grudge. Consequently, religious commitment appears to play a key role in the ability to forgive. ⁽⁴³⁾

The joint assessment of forgiveness likelihood and religious faith was also found to be statistically significant, indicating a correlation between the two variables. ⁽⁴³⁾ People with an established religious practice tend to be more inclined to forgive, influenced by their values and principles. Religious faith promotes self-awareness, a crucial factor in forgiveness, and fosters harmonious relationships that enhance life purpose. ⁽⁵⁹⁾ This can motivate forgiveness and help people find meaning in life. ^(60,61)

Similarly, a significant relationship was observed between religious faith and life meaning, in line with previous studies. ^(62,63) Additional research supports that religious commitment is an essential factor in strengthening meaning in life ⁽⁵⁰⁾ as it creates a positive bond in the individual. ^(64,65) This perspective posits that religiosity is closely related to satisfaction in various areas of life, ⁽⁶⁵⁾ serving as an important mediator in the pursuit of purpose.

The primary analysis, conducted using linear regression, revealed that religious faith has a significant impact on the sense of life among young people and adults, a finding consistent with previous studies. ⁽⁶⁶⁾ According to Głaz ^, the perception of God's presence is the factor that most contributes to life's purpose. This relationship is explained by the central role of faith in logotherapy, as proposed by Frankl ⁽⁶⁷⁾, which points out that a lack of spiritual strength can generate emotional instability and difficulty in finding meaning. In this sense, faith activates existential intelligence, facilitating the development of a system of beliefs and values essential to finding meaning. ⁽⁴⁰⁾ Furthermore, participation in religious activities satisfies the need for social belonging, considered fundamental for well-being ^(68), which in turn improves the perception of meaning and satisfaction with life. ⁽⁵⁰⁾ In summary, the findings support the significant relationship between the development of faith and meaning in life. ⁽⁶²⁾

Despite the relevant results, it is necessary to recognize certain limitations.

First, the data were collected using a Microsoft Forms online form, which could have introduced bias into the responses. However, a sizable sample was achieved.

Second, this was a cross-sectional study with probability sampling, conducted at a single point in time. Longitudinal studies, which allow for the observation of changes over time, are recommended.

Third, although a significant relationship was found between the likelihood of forgiveness and the other variables, it was weak. It is recommended that specific forgiveness instruments be employed to obtain more accurate data and enhance future research.

Fourth, sociodemographic characteristics also represent a limitation, as the sample consisted solely of young people and adults from the San Martín region. Therefore, future research should include people of other ages and areas to generalize the findings.

Finally, although religious faith was considered a predictor, other equally relevant variables—such as spirituality, self-esteem, resilience, life satisfaction, suicide, or psychological well-being—were not included. Future correlational, predictive, or explanatory studies could explore these dimensions to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon.

Conclusion

This study provided empirical evidence on the role of forgiveness and religious faith as factors related to meaning in life among young people and adults. The results showed that religious faith is a significant predictor of meaning in life and can serve as an effective tool for setting goals, fostering motivation, promoting emotional well-being, and enhancing interpersonal relationships.

In short, it was concluded that religious faith and the likelihood of forgiveness were key elements for cultivating a more fulfilling life. These findings support the importance of incorporating these factors into psychological intervention programs, as well as in future research that contributes to the holistic development of individuals.

Data Availability Statement

The authors made the data that support the conclusions of this article available, without undue reservation.

Funding: This research received no external funding. No financial support from any public or private institution was obtained for the development of this study, including data collection, statistical analysis, and manuscript writing. All activities were carried out with the research team's resources.

Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Contribution statement: Luz Angelica Edquén Orrillo, Gerson Venturo Lopez, Sintia Salas Tuanama, Jessica Aranda Turpo, Joel Palomino Ccasa, carried out the entire research process, collecting updated scientific information and writing the article.

References Bibliografic

1. Ministry of Health. Press release. [Internet] 2022 [cited 4 Feb 2024]. MINSA provides more than 4 million mental health services. Available from: https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minsa/noticias/651753-minsa-logra-realizar-mas-de-4-millones-de-atenciones-en-salud-mental.

2. Castaño C, Ortiz E, Avendaño B, Hernández M del R. Meaning of life and its association with anxiety and depression in young people. Interdisciplinaria [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2 Feb 2024];39(2):355–368. Available from: http://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1668-70272022000200355&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es.

3. De la Guardia M, Ruvalcaba J. Health and its determinants, health promotion and health education. J Negat Posit Result [Internet]. 2020 [cited 3 Feb 2024];5(1):81–90. Available from: https://scielo.isciii.es/pdf/jonnpr/v5n1/2529-850X-jonnpr-5-01-81.pdf.

4. Lin L, Shek D. Article Meaning-in-Life Profiles among Chinese Late Adolescents: Associations with Readiness for Political Participation Meaning-in-Life Profiles among Chinese Late Adolescents: Associations with Readiness for Political Participation. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2021 [cited 4 Feb 2024];18(11):5765. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5765.

5. Chan G. Meaning of life and goals of students in teacher training: the case of a Mexican university. RIDE Rev Iberoam para la Investig y el Desarro Educ [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2 Feb 2024];13(25):373. Available from: https://www.ride.org.mx/index.php/RIDE/article/view/1248.

6. Adler A, Wolfe WB. Understanding Human Nature (Psychology Revivals) [Internet]. 2011 [cited 5 Feb 2024]; 1–197 p. Available from: https://familycouselling.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/adler-understanding-human-nature.pdf.

7. Maslow A. Motivation and Personality [Internet]. 1954 [cited 5 Feb 2024];496 p. Available from: https://www.academia.edu/22439303/Motivation_and_Personality_Maslow.

8. Valarezo D, Vélez K, Placencio M. Meaning of life in underemployed adults and its relationship with automatic thoughts. Espacios [Internet]. 2023 [cited 7 Feb 2024];44(04):53–68. Available from: https://www.revistaespacios.com/a23v44n04/a23v44n04p05.pdf.

9. Jiménez-Segura F. Sense of Life among university students due to the virtualization of education during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Resilience Portfolio Model. Actual Investig en Educ [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2 Feb 2024];21(3):1–39. Available from: https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/aie/article/view/48164.

10. Jiménez-Ribera A, García-Alandente J. The meaning of life in stories of discontinuity of criminal careers: qualitative analysis of two cases. Rev Crim [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2 Feb 2024];63(2):33–51. Available from: http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1794-31082021000200033&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=es.

11. Grossoehme D, Friebert S, Baker JN, Tweddle M, Needle J, Chrastek J, et al. Association of Religious and Spiritual Factors With Patient-Reported Outcomes of Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms, Fatigue, and Pain Interference Among Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer. JAMA Netw Open [Internet]. 2020 [cited 8 Feb 2024];3(6):1–15. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2767212.

12. García J, Pérez S, Marco J. Differences in the Meaning in Life of Patients Diagnosed with Mental Disorders. Univ Psychol [Internet]. 2021 [cited 9 Feb 2024];20:1–10. Available from: https://revistas.javeriana.edu.co/index.php/revPsycho/article/view/29186.

13. Shek D, Chai W, Tan L. The relationship between anxiety and depression under the pandemic: The role of life meaning. Front Psychol [Internet]. 2022 [cited 11 Feb 2024];13(November):1–14. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1059330/full.

14. Szcześniak M, Świątek AH, Cieślak M, Świdurska D. Disease Acceptance and Eudemonic Well-Being Among Adults With Physical Disabilities: The Mediator Effect of Meaning in Life. Front Psychol [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2 Feb 2024];11(October):1–10. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.525560/full .

15. Kaya A, Türk N, Batmaz H, Griffiths M. Online Gaming Addiction and Basic Psychological Needs Among Adolescents: The Mediating Roles of Meaning in Life and Responsibility. Int J Ment Health Addict [Internet]. 2023 [cited 12 Feb 2024];(0123456789). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00994-9.

16. Kuk A, Guszkowska M. Changes and Predictors of the Sense of Meaning in Life in Polish University Students Participating in Psychological Workshops Communication–Forgiveness–Love. J Relig Health [Internet]. 2019 [cited 13 Feb 2024];58(4):1095–1106. Available from: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10943-018-0631-1.

17. Handa S, Pereira A, Holmqvist G. The Rapid Decline of Happiness: Exploring Life Satisfaction among Young People across the World. Appl Res Qual Life [Internet]. 2023 [cited 15 Feb 2024];18(3):1549–1579. Available from: https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11482-023-10153-4.

18. Dameron E, Goeke M. The Relationship between Meaning in Life and the Childhood Family Environment among Emerging Adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2 0 Feb 2024];20(11):5945. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/11/5945.

19. Głaz S. The Relationship of Forgiveness and Values with Meaning in Life of Polish Students. J Relig Health [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2 1 Feb 2024];58(5):1886–1907. Available from: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10943-019-00860-4.

20. Głaz S. Religious Experience as a Predictor of the Meaning in Life and Life Satisfaction in the Lives of Polish Women after a Stillbirth. J Relig Health [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2 2 Feb 2024];62(2):839–858. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-022-01698-z.

21. Filipović A, Rihtar S. Religiosity as a factor of social-emotional resilience and personal growth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatian adolescents. J Relig Educ [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2 3 Feb 2024];71(2):123–137. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40839-023-00197-x.

22. Aggarwal S, Wright J, Morgan A, Patton G, Reavley N. Religiosity and spirituality in the prevention and management of depression and anxiety in young people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2 Feb 2024];23(1):1–33. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05091-2.

23. Wnuk M, Charzyńska E. Does Forgiveness Underlie the Relationship Between Religiosity and Meaning in Life Among Members of Sexaholics Anonymous in Poland? J Relig Health [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2 5 Feb 2024];(0123456789). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01842-3.

24. Furtado I, Von S, Leal I. Impact of meaning of life and spirituality on psychological well-being of the elderly. Psicol Saúde Doença [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2 Feb 2 024];23(2):473–480. Available from: https://www.sp-ps.pt/downloads/download_jornal/917.

25. Virto H, Vargas D, Grajeda P. My God, why have you forsaken me? Stress, anxiety, depression, and religious coping in medical students. Psiquiatr Biológica [Internet]. 2023 [cited 26 Feb 2024];30(3):100427. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1134593423000362.

26. Krok D, Zarzycka B. Interpersonal Forgiveness and Meaning in Life in Older Adults: The Mediating and Moderating Roles of the Religious Meaning System. Religions [Internet]. 2021 [cited 27 Feb 2024];12(1):37. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/1/37.

27. Ramírez M, Serra E. Does Christian Spirituality Enhance Psychological Interventions on Forgiveness, Gratitude, and the Meaning of Life? A Quasi-Experimental Intervention with the Elderly and Youth. Nurs Reports [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2 8 Feb 2024];10(2):182–206. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/10/2/22.

28. Buonanno C, Iuliano E, Grossi G, Mancini F, Stendardo E, Tudisco F, et al. Forgiveness in the Modulation of Responsibility in a Sample of Italian Adolescents with a Tendency towards Conduct or Obsessive Compulsive Problems. Brain Sci [Internet]. 2021 [cited 12 Feb 2024];11(10):1333. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/10/1333.

29. Ato M, López J, Benavente A. A classification system for research designs in psychology. An Psicol [Internet]. 2013 [cited 5 Feb 2024];29(3):1038–1059. Available from: http://revistas.um.es/analesps/article/view/178511.

30. Steger M, Frazier P, Oishi S, Kaler M. The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and searching for meaning in life. J Couns Psychol [Internet]. 2006 [cited 1 Feb 2024];53(1):80–93. Available from: https://doi.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80.

31. Góngora V, Castro A. Validation of the Meaning of Life Questionnaire MLQ in the Argentine adult and adolescent population. 2011 [cited 9 Feb 2024];45(3):395–404. Available from: https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/bitstream/handle/11336/192537/CONICET_Digital_Nro.3cccdd2c-5091-47cc-afad-40724b11e760_B.pdf?sequence=2.

32. Travezaño A, Vilca L, Quiroz J, Huerta S, Delgado R, Caycho T. Meaning of life questionnaire (MLQ) in Peruvian undergraduate students: study of its psychometric properties from the perspective of classical test theory (CTT). BMC Psychol [Internet]. 2022 [cited 13 Feb 2024];10(1):206. Available from: https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-022-00913-6.

33. Rye M, Loiacono D, Folck C, Olszewski B, Heim T, Madia B. Evaluation of the psychometric properties of two forgiveness scales. Curr Psychol [Internet]. 2001 [cited 15 Feb 2024];20(3):260–277. Available from: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12144-001-1011-6.

34. Caycho T, Ventura J, Arias W, Azabache K, Rodriguez L, Moreno J. Probability of Forgiveness Scale: Initial evidence of validity and reliability in the Peruvian context. Rev Argent Cienc Comport [Internet]. 2018 [cited 16 Feb 2024];10:12–21. Available from: https://www.redalyc.org/journal/3334/333464720004/.

35. Plante T, Boccaccini M. Reliability and validity of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire. Pastoral Psychol [Internet]. 1997 [cited 19 Feb 2024];45(6):429–437. Available from: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/BF02310643.

36. Caycho-Rodríguez T, Vilca LW, Plante TG, Vivanco-Vidal A, Saroli-Araníbar D, Carbajal-León C, et al. Strength of Religious Faith in Peruvian Adolescents and Adults: Psychometric Evidence from the Original and Short Versions of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire in Spanish. Pastoral Psychol [Internet]. 2021 [cited 18 Feb 2024];71(3):399–418. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11089-021-00972-3.

37. Lilliefors HW. On the Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test for Normality with Mean and Variance Unknown. J Am Stat Assoc [Internet]. 1967 [cited 15 Feb 2024];62(318):399. Available from: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2283970?origin=crossref.

38. Akoglu H. User's guide to correlation coefficients. Turkish J Emerg Med [Internet]. 2018 [cited 11 Feb 2024];18(3):91–93. Available from: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2452247318302164.

39. Pérez E, Medrano L. Exploratory Factor Analysis: Conceptual and Methodological Basis. Review Article. Test. 2010 [cited 18 Feb 2024];2(1889):58–66. Available from: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=3161108.

40. Skrzypińska K. Does Spiritual Intelligence (SI) Exist? A Theoretical Investigation of a Tool Useful for Finding the Meaning of Life. J Relig Health [Internet]. 2020 [cited 7 Feb 2024];60(1):500–516. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01005-8.

41. Seyma N, Soyer F, Mustafa K. Examination of meaning in life, forgiveness flexibility, cognitive flexibility, and psychological symptoms in individuals doing sports and not doing sports in terms of various variables. African Educ Res J. 2021;9(1):146– 159.Available from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1285328.

42. Dahiya R, Rangnekar S. Relationship between forgiveness at work and life satisfaction: Indian manufacturing organizations. Int J Bus Excell [Internet]. 2020 [cited 9 Feb 2024];21(3):359. Available from: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=108194.

43. Khosla I, Khosla S, Khosla M. Does religious commitment facilitate forgiveness? a study on Indian young adults. Int J Indian Psychol [Internet]. 2020 [cited 10 Feb 2024];8(2 May 2021):1020–1027. Available from:https://ijip.in/articles/does-religious-commitment-facilitate-forgiveness-a-study-on-indian-young-adults/.

44. Li Y, Woodberry R, Liu H, Guo G. Why are Women More Religious than Men? Do Risk Preferences and Genetic Risk Predispositions Explain the Gender Gap? J Sci Study Relig [Internet]. 2020 [cited 21 Feb 2024];59(2):289–310. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jssr.12657.

45. Moon J, Tratner A, Mcdonald M. Men are less religious in more genderequal countries. Proc R Soc B Biol Sci. 2022 [cited 23 Feb 2024];289(1968):1–9. Available from: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2021.2474.

46. Palmisano S, Todesco L. The gender gap in religiosity over time in Italy: Are men and women really becoming more similar? Soc Compass. 2019 [cited 2 Feb 2024];66(4):543–560. Available from: https://iris.unito.it/bitstream/2318/1723442/4/Main%20text_todesco_palmisano.pdf.

47. Robinson O, Hanson K, Hayward G, Lorimer D. Age and Cultural Gender Equality as Moderators of the Gender Difference in the Importance of Religion and Spirituality: Comparing the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. J Sci Study Relig. 2019 [cited 2 Feb 2024];58(1):301–308. Available from: https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/22230/3/22230%20ROBINSON_Age_and_Cultural_Gender_Equality_2018.pdf.

48. Oluwakemi Ak. Religion and Women Participation in National Development. J Manag Soc Sci. 2021 [cited 23 Feb 2024];10(1):1007–1022. Available from: https://upgrade.fountainjournals.com/index.php/JMSS/article/view/329.

49. Kowalczyk O, Roszkowski K, Montane X, Pawliszak W, Tylkowski B, Bajek A. Religion and Faith Perception in a Pandemic of COVID-19. J Relig Health [Internet]. 2020 [cited 22 Feb 2024];59(6):2671–2677. Available from: https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10943-020-01088-3.

50. Carranza R, Turpo J, Mamani O, Torres J, Arenaza F. Spirituality and religiousness as predictors of life satisfaction among Peruvian citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heliyon [Internet]. 2021 [cited 27 Feb 2024];7(5):e06939. Available from: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2405844021010422.

51. Tamayo KR, Rungduin D, Rungduin T. LETTING BYGONES BE BYGONES: THE STABILITY OF FORGIVINGNESS TENDENCY. Southeast Asia Psychol J [Internet]. 2025 [cited 26 Feb 2024];13(1):191–214. Available from: https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/SAPJ/article/view/6037.

52. Chan G. Meaning of life: a tool for training university students in southeastern Mexico. RIDE Rev Iberoam para la Investig y el Desarro Educ [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2 Feb 2024];11(22). Available from: https://www.ride.org.mx/index.php/RIDE/article/view/937.

53. Lelek M, Szczygieł M. Stress appraisal as a mediator between the sense of coherence and the frequency of stress coping strategies in women and men during COVID 19 lockdown. Scand J Psychol [Internet]. 2022 [cited 11 Feb 2024];63(4):365–375. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sjop.12813.

54. Toussaint L, Cheadle A, Dezutter J, Williams D. Late Adulthood, COVID-19-Related Stress Perceptions, Meaning in Life, and Forgiveness as Predictors of Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychol. 2021 [cited 2 Feb 2024];12(September):1–11. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.731017/full.

55. Girgin Büyükbayraktar Ç, Barbaros Yalçın S, Yavuz Öztürk İ, Say S. Exploring the Relation: Does Forgiveness Improve Interpersonal Problem Solving? Behav Sci (Basel) [Internet]. 2025 [cited 4 Feb 2024];15(1):35. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/1/35.

56. Salgado-Levano C, Grimaldo M, Correa-Rojas J, Mori-Sánchez M del P, Riveros-Paredes P. Spiritual well-being and its influence on forgiveness, gratitude, and resilience in university students in Lima (Peru). Psychological Sciences [Internet]. 2024 [cited 13 Feb 2024] ;18(December). Available from: https://revistas.ucu.edu.uy/index.php/cienciaspsicologicas/article/view/3833.

57. Tala Á, Valanzuela J. If I Want to Heal, I Should Forgive: A Review on Forgiveness and Health. 2020 [cited 11 Feb 2024];58(3):251–258. Available from: https://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0717-92272020000300251.

58. Záhorcová L, Zelenáková B. Qualitative analysis of a Slovakian sample of the lay population's understanding of forgiveness with regard to age differences. Cesk Psychol [Internet]. 2021 [cited 1 Feb 2024];65(5):411–425. Available from: https://ceskoslovenskapsychologie.cz/index.php/csps/article/view/172.

59. Salgado C, Grimaldo M, Correa J, Mor M del P, Riveros P. Spiritual well-being and its influence on forgiveness, gratitude, and resilience in university students from Lima (Peru). Psychological Sciences [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2 Feb 2024];18(2). Available from: https://revistas.ucu.edu.uy/index.php/cienciaspsicologicas/article/view/3833.

60. Haikola A. Conversations with God: How Are Religion and Spirituality Used to Make Sense of Forgiveness? Pastoral Psychol [Internet]. 2023 [cited 3 Feb 2024];72(5):693–709. Available from: https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11089-023-01081-z.

61. Kane D, Allen K, Ming M, Smith T, Jackson A, Griner D, et al. Forgiveness and gratitude as mediators between religious commitment and well-Being among Latter-day Saint Polynesian Americans. Ment Health Relig Cult [Internet]. 2021 [cited 8 Feb 2024];24(2):195–210. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13674676.2021.1875205.

62. Salmani S, Biderafsh A, Aliakbarzadeh Z. The Relationship Between Spiritual Development and Life Satisfaction Among Students of Qom University of Medical Sciences. J Relig Health [Internet]. 2020 [cited 11 Feb 2024];59(4):1889–96. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-00749-8.

63. Villani D, Sorgente A, Iannello P, Antonietti A. The Role of Spirituality and Religiosity in Subjective Well-Being of Individuals With Different Religious Status. Front Psychol [Internet]. 2019 [cited 7 Feb 2024];10(JULY). Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01525/full.

64. Abu H, Ayten A. Religious Involvement, Interpersonal Forgiveness and Mental Health and Well-Being Among a Multinational Sample of Muslims. J Happiness Stud [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2 Feb 2024];21(8):3051–67. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00213-8.

65. Sholihin M, Hardivizon H, Wanto D, Saputra H. The effect of religiosity on life satisfaction: A meta-analysis. HTS Teol Stud / Theol Stud [Internet]. 2022 [cited 11 Feb 2024];78(4):1–11. Available from: https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/7172.

66. Culver J. How Consistency in Closeness to God Predicts Psychological Resources and Life Satisfaction: Findings from the National Study of Youth and Religion. J Soc Pers Relat [Internet]. 2020 [cited 13 Feb 2024];38(1):103–23. Available from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0265407520956710.

67. Frankl V. Logotherapy and Existential Analysis—A Review. Am J Psychother [Internet]. 1966 [cited 16 Feb 2024];20(2):252–60. Available from: https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1966.20.2.252.

68. Nur V, Ayriza Y, Setyo Y. Religiosity and Life Satisfaction in Indonesia: Evidence from a Community Survey. J Educ Heal Community Psychol [Internet]. 2021 [cited 11 Feb 2024];10(1):38. Available from: http://journal.uad.ac.id/index.php/Psychology/article/view/19625.

Información adicional

redalyc-journal-id: 5728