Forgiveness-Hope Relationships Considering the Risk of Depression: Samples from Public School Students in A Religious Country

Abstract

This study aimed to describe forgiveness-hope relationships among normal adolescents and those at high risk of depression in Indonesia, which is considered a religious country. This study involved 713 adolescents from a state vocational school in Semarang, obtained purposively in both sample groups (Male=64.1%; nHigh Risk=42; nNormal=671). Measurements used the DASS-Depression, Forgiveness Scale, and State Hope Scale.  Data distributions supported non-parametric tests. Statistical analysis particularly used Spearman's rho correlation.  Additional analyses used descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U. The study resulted in a significant positive correlation in each sample group; the correlation coefficient was greater in the high risk sample. When the correlation in the normal sample was significant for each sex, the correlation in the male high-risk sample was not significant alone. Specifically, both sexes of the high-risk sample received benefits on their pathways but not agency subscale. Among all the forgiveness dimensions in the high-risk sample, only forgiveness of situation contributed to hope. The results indicate that forgiveness may encourage better hope in more depressed adolescents, especially female adolescents. Targeting forgiveness of situations is the primary thing for depressive adolescents, thus encouraging efforts to find coping strategies regardless of their capacity. Further examination using experimental methods can be suggested.