Effectiveness of a forgiveness program on psychological distress and academic emotions in Bullying-victimized students

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 University of Tabriz

2 Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

3 Associate Professor of educational administration University of Tabriz

4 Ph.D. Student of educational Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a forgiveness program on psychological distress and academic emotions in Bullying-victimized students. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest–posttest–follow up and a control group. The statistical population consisted of female high school students (second level) who were victims of bullying in Tabriz during the 1404–1405 academic year. Thirty students were selected through screening and then purposive sampling, and were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The research instruments included the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the Pekrun Academic Emotions Questionnaire, and the forgiveness training package. A pretest was administered to both groups. The experimental group then received forgiveness training in ten 50 minute sessions held weekly over two and a half months. After the sessions were completed, the posttest was administered, and one month later the follow up assessment was conducted. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The results indicated that forgiveness training significantly reduced psychological distress in the experimental group, and this reduction remained stable through the follow up phase. The training also increased positive academic emotions and decreased negative academic emotions in the experimental group, with these changes remaining stable at follow up. The forgiveness training program can be used to reduce psychological distress and negative academic emotions and to increase positive academic emotions among students who are victims of bullying.

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History

  • Receive Date: 06 May 2026
  • Revise Date: 08 September 2026
  • Accept Date: 12 September 2026

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