Abstract
This study examined the reliability, construct validity, and factor pattern of the Dutch version of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI) in a sample of 731 respondents (heterosexually married adults, 359 males and 372 females) in Belgium. The Cronbach α for EFI total (.98) and all its subscales, Positive Affect (PA) (.95), Negative Affect (NA) (.92), Positive Behaviour (PB) (.94), Negative Behaviour (NB) (.94), Positive Cognition (PC) (.95), Negative Cognition (NC) (.93) were high. The construct validity of the scale was measured by a 1-item scale. The 1-item scale proved to be positive, strong and significantly (p < .001) correlated with EFI (.73). Principal components analysis in an Initial Factor Method found a one-factor solution confirming the unidimensional structure of EFI.
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References
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Jose Orathinkal and Alfons Vansteenwegen are affiliated with the Family and Sexuality Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
Robert D. Enright is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA.
Robert Stroobants is affiliated with the Psychology and Educational Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
Appendices
Appendix Gedragsschaal
Soms worden we onterecht gekwetst door mensen in onze familie, onze vriendenkring, op school, op werk of in andere situaties. We vragen je om te denken aan je meest recente ervaring waar iemand jou onterecht en diep gekwetst heeft. Visualiseer voor een moment dit hele voorval. Probeer die persoon te zien en probeer te ervaren wat er is gebeurd.
Beantwoord nu een serie vragen over je huidige houding tegenover die persoon. We willen niet je oordeel over je vroegere houding(en), maar over je houding op dit moment. Alle antwoorden zijn vertrouwelijk, dus antwoord a.u.b. eerlijk. Hartelijk dank.
© Robert D.Enright. All rights reserved. 1994.
Deze serie van items gaat over je huidige gevoelens en emoties tegenover die persoon. Probeer je huidige gevoelen voor die persoon voor elk item te bepalen. Omcirkel voor elk item het cijfer, dat het best overeenkomt met je huidige gevoel. Sla a.u.b. geen item over. Bedankt.
Deze serie van items gaat over je huidige gedrag tegenover die persoon. Denk na hoe jij reageert of zou reageren t.o.v. die persoon, wanneer je deze vragen beantwoordt. Omcirkel a.u.b. voor elk item het cijfer dat het best past bij je huidige gedrag of het mogelijke gedrag. Sla a.u.b. geen item over. Bedankt.
Deze serie van items gaat over hoe jij nu over deze persoon denkt. Denk na over de verschillende gedachten die nu in je hoofd rondgaan wanneer je aan deze persoon denkt. Omcirkel a.u.b. voor elk item het cijfer dat het best past bij je huidige gedachten. Sla a.u.b. geen item over. Bedankt.
Zojuist heb je deze persoon en die gebeurtenis beoordeeld. Zou je nu tenslotte nog de laatste vragen a.u.b. willen beantwoorden. Hartelijk dank.
Attitude Scale (English version)
Sometimes people hurt us wrongly in our family, in our circle of friends, in our school, on our job or in different situations. Therefore we ask you to think about the most recent experience in which someone has hurt you wrongly and deeply. Visualise this occasion for a moment that situation. Try to see that person and try to experience what has happened.
Answer now the following questions about your current attitude towards that person. We are not interested in your earlier attitudes, but in the attitude at this moment. All the answers are confidential, so answer honestly please. Thank you.
© Robert D.Enright. All rights reserved. 1994.
The following items handle about your current feelings and emotions towards that person. Try to define your current feeling towards that person for every item. Indicate for every item a number that corresponds best with your current feeling. Please don’t skip an item. Thanks.
The following items handle about your current behaviour towards that person. Try to consider how you would react towards that person when you answer these questions. Indicate for every item a number that corresponds best with your current behaviour or with your possible behaviour. Please don’t skip an item. Thanks
When considering this person, how would you react or how are you reacting:
The following items handle about how you think about this person at this moment. Think about the different thoughts that cross your mind when you are thinking about this person. Please indicate for every item the number that best fits with your current thoughts. Please don’t skip an item.
I think that he/she is _____ (Put every word or every sentence on the dotted line, if you answer at every item)
Now you have rated this person and that situation. Would you now please, answer these last questions.
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Orathinkal, J., Vansteenwegen, A., Enright, R.D. et al. Further Validation of the Dutch Version of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory. Community Ment Health J 43, 109–128 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-006-9065-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-006-9065-4