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To investigate the relation between forgiveness and apology as they relate to cardiovascular reactivity and recovery, 29 men and 50 women were exposed to an interpersonal transgression (i.e., verbal harassment) while performing a serial subtraction task. Participants were categorized into high and low forgiveness groups based on scores on the forgiving personality scale.

Following the task, approximately half of the participants received an apology from the experimenter for his/her comments during the task. Although no group differences in cardiovascular reactivity were observed during the serial subtraction task, persons high in forgiveness displayed more rapid diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure recovery than persons low in forgiveness.

In response to the apology, participants displayed greater high frequency heart rate variability recovery compared to those who did not receive an apology.

A significant apology × sex interaction was observed for diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure.

Women who received an apology exhibited faster recovery from the transgression than women who did not receive an apology.

In contrast, men who received an apology exhibited delayed recovery from the transgression compared to men who did not receive an apology.

These results indicate that there are potentially healthful benefits to forgiveness and apology, but the relation is influenced by situation and by sex.

Journal of Behavioral Medicine

August 2010, Volume 33, Issue 4, pp 293-304

ArticleJournal of Behavioral Medicine

August 2010, Volume 33, Issue 4, pp 293-304

First online: 03 April 2010

The influence of forgiveness and apology on cardiovascular reactivity and recovery in response to mental stress

  • Matthew C. WhitedAffiliated withDepartment of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center Email author 
  • , Amanda L. WheatAffiliated withDepartment of Psychology, West Virginia University
  • , Kevin T. LarkinAffiliated withDepartment of Psychology, West Virginia University