This work analysed whether the three factors of forgivingness observed in adults
– lasting resentment, sensitivity to circumstances, and unconditional forgiveness
– were also present in older people. In addition, it examined whether gratitude
accounted for a significant portion of the variance of dispositional forgiveness
beyond that of socio-demographic variables. The sample comprised one hundred
and nine old people (65 women and 44 men, mean age = 70.3 years). The same
three-factor structure that emerged in adults was also evidenced in older people.
The expectation of (a) a negative correlation between lasting resentment, and
gratitude, and (b) a positive correlation between unconditional forgiveness and
gratitude was supported. Furthermore, results showed that gratitude explained a
significant amount of variance of lasting resentment, and unconditional forgiveness.