Forgiveness as a Mediator between Peer Conflict and Emotional Wellbeing in Adolescents
Keywords:
Adolescents, Peer Conflict, Forgiveness, Emotional WellbeingAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the mediating role of forgiveness in the relationship between peer conflict and emotional wellbeing among adolescents in Indonesia.
Methods and Materials: A descriptive correlational research design was employed with a sample of 391 secondary school students selected using stratified random sampling based on the Krejcie and Morgan table. Emotional wellbeing was measured with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), forgiveness with the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), and peer conflict with the Peer Conflict Scale (PCS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 to compute descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS version 21 to test the hypothesized mediation model. Model fit was assessed using χ², df, χ²/df, GFI, AGFI, CFI, TLI, and RMSEA indices.
Findings: Results indicated that peer conflict was negatively correlated with emotional wellbeing (r = –.36, p = .003) and forgiveness (r = –.29, p = .006), while forgiveness was positively correlated with emotional wellbeing (r = .42, p = .001). The SEM results showed a good model fit (χ² = 114.27, df = 58, χ²/df = 1.97, GFI = .94, AGFI = .91, CFI = .96, TLI = .95, RMSEA = .049). Direct effects revealed that peer conflict significantly predicted lower emotional wellbeing (β = –.29, p = .001) and forgiveness (β = –.31, p = .002). Forgiveness significantly predicted higher emotional wellbeing (β = .36, p = .001). Importantly, forgiveness mediated the relationship between peer conflict and emotional wellbeing with a significant indirect effect (β = –.11, p = .007), confirming partial mediation.
Conclusion: The findings highlight forgiveness as a crucial psychological mechanism that reduces the detrimental effects of peer conflict on adolescent emotional wellbeing. Incorporating forgiveness-focused interventions in schools may help adolescents manage conflicts constructively and maintain healthier emotional outcomes.
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