Date
2-13-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Jichan Jay Kim
Keywords
state forgiveness, trait forgiveness, loneliness, spirituality, depression, long-distance learning, Christian-based university
Disciplines
Psychology | Religion
Recommended Citation
Botello-Ramirez, Elda, "The Role of Forgiveness: Spirituality, Loneliness, and Depression in a Christian University" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7940.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7940
Abstract
For university students, loneliness has harmful effects, like depression, but choosing to forgive and embracing spirituality can lead to better mental health. Yet, limited studies have examined these constructs among students enrolled in long-distance learning (LDL) courses. This is important because an increase in loneliness continues, and more students are taking LDL classes. Still, there is a paucity of work on mental health among students in Christian universities. Thus, this quantitative research study examined context-specific or transgression-specific forgiveness (state forgiveness) while considering the role of personality traits (i.e., trait forgiveness) related to forgiveness to investigate its impact on loneliness and its relationship with spirituality. More specifically, examining students’ forgiveness and loneliness levels and the moderating role of spirituality while controlling for depression and trait forgiveness to analyze the unique role of forgiveness on loneliness and how forgiveness interacts with spirituality among LDL students at a Christian University are the goals in this study. A total of N = 149 participants from a large Christian university in Central Virginia completed self-report measuring instruments. The study highlights that most LDL students were in the process of a transgression-specific forgiveness: state forgiveness. Findings show that participants with higher spirituality do not predict a stronger negative relationship between state forgiveness and loneliness in students enrolled in LDL courses at a Christian university, compared to students with lower spirituality, while accounting for the controlled variables of trait forgiveness and depression.
