Forgiveness therapy for adult inmate in Indonesian correctional facility: a pilot study

There is a great deal of research that forgiveness therapy shows positive impacts on one's mental health in the general sample. However, there is still not much research on forgiveness therapy for inmates. This pilot study aimed to investigate the influence of forgiveness therapy on improving self-acceptance in Indonesian inmates. The participants in this study were seven adult inmates (M = 33 years, SD = 7.5). A quasi-experimental method, using the one-group pretest-posttest design, was employed, with measurements were taken three times (i.e., before, after, and one week after the intervention). The research instruments were the Heartland Forgiveness Scale and the Self-Acceptance Scale. The results of the statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the score of self-acceptance before and after being given forgiveness therapy, with the score being t(6) = -2,764; p = 0,033 (p < 0,05). The qualitative data also supported the quantitative analysis that forgiveness therapy could increase the self-acceptance of the inmates. Results were expected to be used as the basis of treatment and the development of mental health programs in Indonesian correctional institutions.