Suicidal behavior and alcohol misuse are major public health concerns, especially among emerging adults, yet the positive psychological (PP) mechanisms underlying these risks remain understudied. Grounded in the Spirituality-Forgiveness-Addiction-Recovery-Association (SFARA) Model, the present study examined the relationship between forgiveness and suicidal behavior, as mediated by emotional resources (PP constructs) and/or psychological distress, among emerging adult problematic drinkers. A U.S. sample of 578 participants (age: 18-25 years) completed this online, cross-sectional study utilizing the www.Prolific.com platform. We hypothesized that multiple dimensions of forgiveness would be associated with suicidal behavior directly and indirectly through emotional resources (hope, gratitude, and mindfulness) and/or psychological distress (psychache, i.e., psychological pain). Participants were included based on a hazardous drinking score derived from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Consumption subscale (AUDIT-C). Hayes’ PROCESS macro (model 80) was used to conduct the serial mediation analyses (full model R² = .4990, p < .0001). Regarding significant indirect effects, forgiveness of self (FS) and of uncontrollable situations (FSit) each had a total indirect effect on suicidal behavior. Forgiveness of others (FO) had a specific indirect effect through mindfulness. FO and FSit each had a specific indirect effect through gratitude and psychache, in sequence. Of note, psychache was the strongest and most consistent variable associated with suicidal behavior (depressive symptoms notwithstanding), highlighting its central role as a proximal risk factor. The findings underscore the relevance of addressing psychache while improving emotional resources such as hope, gratitude, and mindfulness to mitigate suicide risk in the context of alcohol misuse.
Emotional Resources and Distress as Mediators of the Association of Forgiveness with Suicidal Behavior among Emerging Adult Problematic Drinkers