The well documented health benefits of forgiveness have increased interest in its psychological determinants, particularly religiousness, spirituality, and morality, while ongoing secularization in younger generations raises the question of whether these predictors operate similarly across age groups. The present study examined whether religiousness, spirituality, morality predict trait forgiveness in young adults aged 20 to 30 and older adults aged 60 and above. A cross-sectional design was employed (N = 959). Measures included the Trait Forgiveness Scale, Religious Commitment Inventory, Interfaith Spirituality Scale, and Self-Importance of Moral Identity Scale. In the overall sample, morality (β = .07, p = .019), religiousness (β = .07, p = .022), and spirituality (β = .12, p < .001) were positively associated with forgiveness, while younger adults reported lower forgiveness than older adults (β = −.18, p < .001). A significant interaction between religiousness and age group (β = −.15, p = .013) indicated age differences in its role. Group specific analyses indicated that, among older adults, religiousness was the only significant predictor (β = .15, p = .001). In contrast, among younger adults, spirituality (β = .16, p < .001) and morality (β = .03, p = .036) were significant predictors, while religiousness was not (β = −.002, p = .963). These findings suggest that the role of religiousness in forgiveness differs across age groups, being more pronounced in older adulthood, while spirituality and morality appear more relevant in younger adults.
Generational Differences in Religious, Moral, and Spiritual Foundations of Forgiveness