The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the mediating effects of one’s image of God in relation to self–forgiveness and anger rumination in middle-aged Christian women. Additionally, the results of this study offer references for the pastoral...
The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the mediating effects of one’s image of God in relation to self–forgiveness and anger rumination in middle-aged Christian women. Additionally, the results of this study offer references for the pastoral care and Christian counseling of middle-aged Christian women. In order to carry out this research a survey was conducted on middle-aged Christian women in their 40’s through 60’s residing in South Korea. The survey was completed using the professional online survey site Survey Monkey, as well as an offline survey. Data from a total of 211 individuals was collected and used for this research. The survey utilized the God Image Assessment (GIA), the Korean version of the State Self-Forgiveness Scale (SSFS-K), and the Anger Rumination Scale (ARS) in order to examine each of the factors. The collected data was analyzed and results were computed using Pearson’s correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.
The results of the study are as follows. First, self-forgiveness and image of God exhibited a meaningful positive correlation, with a positive correlation also present between each of the sub-factors of the image of God—acceptance, presence, influence, challenge, benevolence and providence. A negative correlation was exhibited between anger rumination and both self-forgiveness and image of God. Additionally, image of God displayed a negative correlation between the sub-factors of anger rumination—anger memories rumination, rumination of causes and rumination of revenge. Second, image of God had a meaningful influence on self-forgiveness. The sub-factors of acceptance, presence and influence exhibited positive influences while benevolence and providence exhibited negative influences. However, the sub-factor challenge failed to exhibit any influence. Third, image of God exhibited an influence on anger rumination. The sub-factor acceptance exhibited a meaningful influence, while the sub-factors presence, challenge, benevolence, influence and providence were not meaningful. Fourth, self-forgiveness had a meaningful influence on anger rumination, exhibiting influences on the sub-factors of anger rumination—anger memories rumination, rumination of causes and rumination of revenge. Fifth, in order to examine the mediating effects of the image of God in relation to self-forgiveness and anger rumination, as a meaningful relation exists between the two factors, mediating effects were implemented. The results confirmed that the image of God had a partial mediating effect in relation to self-forgiveness and anger rumination.
The results of this study are significant for the follow reasons. First, the research results which showed that the sub-factors of image of God acceptance, presence, and influence had a positive influence on self-forgiveness, and that benevolence and providence had a negative influence on self-forgiveness, showed that the religious values of middle-aged Christian women are related to self-forgiveness. Accordingly, investigation of the image of a God who is experienced and felt will be helpful in the self-forgiveness process of middle-aged Christian women. Second, through the research results which showed that self-forgiveness had a meaningful negative influence on rumination of causes, one of the sub-factors of anger rumination, it was revealed that middle-aged Christian women made an effort to reflect upon the cause of their anger incidents and consider the perspective of others in order to link their religious beliefs with their lives. It is believed that Christian beliefs and values may be utilized as a positive resource in counseling. Third, it was verified that image of God had a partial mediating effect in relation to self-forgiveness and anger rumination. This implies that although self-forgiveness of middle-aged Christian women has an influence on anger rumination, one’s image of God also exerts an influence on anger rumination. It also implies that one’s image of God is a protective factor in the alleviation of anger rumination. Accordingly, it is believed that an intervention which can raise one’s image of God will be helpful in a pastoral or counselling setting. This can help middle-aged Christian women express their suppressed anger and emotions and point the way towards re-experiencing the image of God through the experience of receiving acceptance and sympathy. Through these results it is hoped that a positive image of God is formed, a relationship with God who brings help from on high is restored, and inner peace is obtained.
Key words: middle-aged Christian women, self-forgiveness, image of God, anger rumination