Self-Forgiveness and Mortality in Late Life

The purpose of this study is to see if older people who are able to forgive themselves have a lower mortality risk than older
adults who are not able to forgive themselves. In addition, it is hypothesized that the relationship between self-forgiveness
and mortality will be contingent upon the level of an older individual’s education. More specifically, it is predicted that
the potentially beneficial effects of self-forgiveness will be more evident among older people with more years of schooling.
Data from a nationwide survey of older people provide support for this view. Self-forgiveness does not provide a mortality
benefit for less educated elders. But as the level of educational attainment rises, self-forgiveness is associated with a
progressively smaller mortality risk.