Understanding the Interconnectedness between Religion, Forgiveness, Self-compassion and Human Flourishing among Emerging Adults at the University of Lagos, Nigeria
Gbenusola Abike Akinwale 
& Victor Ojakorotu
Issue: Vol.10 No. 6 June 2024 Special Issue Article 2 pp.4-18
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20241062 | Published online 6th June, 2024.
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
The study explored the relationship between religion, forgiveness, self-compassion and human flourishing among emerging adults at the University of Lagos. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design, which allowed for concurrent measurement of both the dependent and independent variables. Using the accidental sampling method, a sample of 408 participants comprising 215 males (52.7%) and 193 females (47.3%) were selected for this study. The scales used to assess these participants comprised three standardized psychological instruments, the secure flourish measure, the heartland forgiveness scale and the self-compassion scale short form (SCSSF). The result however showed a significant influence of religion on forgiveness with Christians reporting the highest in forgiveness compared to other religions, the result further revealed a significant positive relationship between forgiveness and human flourishing but no significant relationship between self-compassion and human flourishing. It, also, showed forgiveness and self-compassion as joint predictors of human flourishing. The findings of this study suggest that those who are more inclined to forgive may experience greater levels of personal growth and well-being. However, this study adds more contribution to scholarship by exploring the interconnectedness between religion, Religion, forgiveness, self-compassion and human flourishing which addresses the gap in existing literature by examining in specific context emerging adults in Nigeria.
Keywords: Religion, Forgiveness, Self-Compassion, Human Flourishing, Emerging Adults
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Gbenusola Abike Akinwale (PhD) is a Developmental Psychologist trained at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. A trained Psychologist and behaviour analyst, who also works as a gender specialist. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of International Relations and Politics, North West University, South Africa. She teaches Psychology at Undergraduate and graduate levels at the University of Lagos.
Victor Ojakorotu is a scholar of International relations and an astute Professor at North West University, South Africa. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. A First Class Honours graduate (BSc) from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in International Relations and an MSc. Degree in the same school. He has actively worked at various capacities as an academic of repute in the last 28 years, specifically, he worked for Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, and Monash University, Johannesburg. Currently, he holds a position as Deputy Director, School of Government Studies, North West University, Mafikeng – South Africa and was recently appointed as an Honorary Professor at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) South Africa. His research interests span several areas which are not limited to peace and conflict issues, social movements, environmentalism, peace advocacy and inter-ethnic harmony in local communities in Africa.
Akinwale, Gbenusola & Victor Ojakorotu. “Understanding the Interconnectedness between Religion, Forgiveness, Self-compassion and Human Flourishing among Emerging Adults at the University of Lagos, Nigeria,” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies, 10 no.6 Special Issue(2024): 4-18. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20241062
© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
