Chapter 1. Introduction: Context, Overview and Guiding Questions; Loren L. Toussaint, Everett L. Worthington Jr. and David R. Williams -- Part I. Definition, Measurement and Models -- Chapter 2. Defining Forgiveness: Historical Roots, Contemporary Research and Key Considerations for Health Outcomes; Jeritt R. Tucker, Rachel L. Bitman, Nathaniel G. Wade and Marilyn A. Cornish -- Chapter 4. Measuring Forgiveness in Health-Related Contenxts; Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet, Daryl R. Van Tongeren and Lindsay Root Luna -- Part II. Empirical Evidence of Forgiveness-Health Connections -- Chapter 5. Forgiveness and Physiological Concomitants and Outcomes; Kevin T. Larkin, Carol Goulet, and Casey Cavanagh -- Chapter 6. Forgiveness and Mental Health; Brandon J. Griffin, Everett L. Worthington, Jr., Caroline R. Lavelock, Nathaniel G. Wade and William T. Hoyt -- Chapter 7. Forgiveness and Physical Health in Healthy Populations; Alyssa C.D. Cheadle and Loren L. Toussaint -- Chapter 8. Forgiveness and Health in Patient Populations; Jennifer P. Friedberg, Hillary Lewin Tuvia and Rose Cha -- Chapter 9. The Role of Forgiveness in Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia; Martin Offenbächer, Jessie Dezutter, Miguel Vallejo and Loren L. Toussaint -- Chapter 10. Forgiveness and Problematic Substance Use; Jon R. Webb and Bridget R. Jeter -- Chapter 11. Forgiveness and Subjective Well-Being: Discussing Mechanisms, Contexts and Rationales; Patrick L. Hill, Marie E. Heffernan and Mathias Allemand -- Part III. Factors Connecting Forgiveness and Health -- Chapter 12. Sex, Forgiveness, and Health -- Andrea J. Miller and Everett L. Worthington, Jr. -- Chapter 13. Forgiveness of Others, Race/ Ethnicity and Health: A Nascent Area of Inquiry; Cheryl A. Smith and Michael J. McFarland -- Chapter 14. Aging, Forgiveness and Health; Neal Krause and R. David Hayward -- Chapter 15. Culture, Forgiveness and Health; Mark M. Leach and Stephanie Parazak -- Part IV. Applications Regarding Forgiveness and Health -- Chapter 16. Forgiveness and Health in Nonmarried Dyadic Relationships; Jody L. Davis, Jeffrey D. Green, Chelsea A. Reid, Jaclyn M. Moloney and Jeni Burnette -- Chapter 17. Forgiveness, Family Relationships and Health; Frank D. Fincham -- Chapter 18. Forgiveness Interventions to Promote Physical Health; Barbara Elliott -- Chapter 19. Concluding Thoughts: Summary and Integration, Models and Research Agendas; Lorent L. Toussaint, Everett L. Worthington Jr. and David R. Williams.

This volume collects the state-of-the-art research on forgiveness and mental and physical health and well-being. It focuses specifically on connections between forgiveness and its health and well-being benefits. Forgiveness has been examined from a variety of perspectives, including the moral, ethical, and philosophical. Ways in which to become more forgiving, and evolutionary theories of revenge and forgiveness have also been investigated and proposed. However, little attention has been paid to the benefits of forgiveness. This volume offers an examination of the theory, methods, and research utilized in understanding these connections. It considers trait and state forgiveness, emotional and decisional forgiveness, and interventions to promote forgiveness, all with an eye toward the positive effects of forgiveness for a victim’s health and well-being. Finally, this volume considers key moderators such as gender, race, and age, as well as, explanatory mechanisms that might mediate links between forgiveness and key outcomes.