Enhancing Self-Esteem and Social Competence in Late Adolescents with Insecure Attachment: A Study on Forgiveness Education

Abstract

The present study attempted to improve self-esteem

and social competence through a self-administered

forgiveness program based on the Enright Forgiveness

Process Model. The participants were individuals with

insecure attachment, who had been hurt and unfairly

treated by their mothers. The forgiveness education

program continued for eight weeks. Self-esteem and social

competence are known as psychological features related to

insecure attachment. To compare the gains between the

forgiveness group and the control group, a paired samples

t-test was conducted. The results showed that the

forgiveness groups' gain scores for secure attachment,

forgiveness, self-esteem, and social competence were

significantly greater than the control group's. The

enhanced scores on all variables but social competence

lasted until the follow-up test, which was conducted eight

weeks after the posttest.