How do psychache and cynicism fit into the forgiveness-suicidal behavior association?

What is it about?

We know that forgiveness, psychological pain, and cynicism are all related to suicide risk in their own right. But could forgiveness be one way of reducing the suicide risk that comes from a cynical worldview characterized by despair and existential turmoil? Our study is the first to suggest that such a trend may exist. We show through a mediation-based model that forgiveness is indeed associated with lower levels of suicide risk via lower levels of cynicism and (in turn) lower levels of psychological pain.

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Why is it important?

This study bridges the gap between multiple lines of inquiry (e.g., forgiveness and suicide, psychache and suicide) and also bolsters a currently small body of work on the relationship between forgiveness and suicide risk. This can hopefully inform future clinical applications of forgiveness to suicidal clients.