Disappointment with God and well-being: The mediating influence of relationship quality and dispositional forgiveness

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which disappointment with God Influenced the psychological and spiritual well being of 160 churchgoers, and the potential mediating influences of relationship quality (spiritual maturity and relationship commitment) and dispositional forgiveness Disappointment with God was positively related to depression and stress and negatively related to spiritual well being, dispositional forgiveness, spiritual maturity, and relationship commitment. The latter 3 were negatively related to depression and stress and positively associated with spiritual well-being. The results suggest an explanation for why religious individuals disappointed with God tend to experience reduced well being outcomes. Counseling implications are discussed.