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Effect and Predictive Role of Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Perceived Social Support on Relationship Satisfaction and Conflict Resolution in Young Adults

Shubhangi Katara
Shubhangi Katara
All your life you’re told forgiveness is for you. But we’re never told why it’s for you. It means you’re working on owning your life.
Shani Tran
Therapist and Founder, The Shani Project
Forgiveness is nothing less than the way we heal the world. We heal the world by healing each and every one of our hearts. The process is simple, but it is not easy.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
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Effect and Predictive Role of Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Perceived Social Support on Relationship Satisfaction and Conflict Resolution in Young Adults

Shubhangi Katara
Shubhangi Katara
NO. of participants
Date
2025
Type of Evidence
Type of Paper
Empiricism
open access
Yes
No
sample size
109

This study was to understand the role of gratitude, forgiveness, and perceived social support on relationship satisfaction and conflict resolution styles among romantic partners in young adults. A total of 109 participants, aged 20 to 27 and currently in romantic relationships, completed self-report measures including Gratitude Questionnaire–6 (GQ-6), TransgressionRelated Interpersonal Motivations Inventory (TRIM-18), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Conflict Resolution Styles Inventory (CRI), and the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI-16). Data was collected via online and paper-based surveys, and statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS. Descriptive and correlational analyses revealed that both gratitude (r = .223, p < .05) and perceived social support (r = .446, p < .01) were positively associated with relationship satisfaction, while compliance and conflict engagement were negatively correlated. Gratitude and support were also significantly related to the use of Conflict Resolution strategies, such as positive problem-solving strategies during conflict. In regression analyses, perceived social support emerged as the strongest predictor of relationship satisfaction (β = .457, p < .001), while forgiveness did not significantly predict satisfaction or conflict resolution styles. These findings suggest that gratitude and perceived social support are robust predictors of relational well-being, while forgiveness may play a more context-dependent role. The results support and emphasize the importance of emotional resources and supportive interpersonal dynamics in fostering satisfaction and constructive conflict management.

Research
Asia
Mental Health Professionals
Supporting Research
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