Divine Forgiveness Measured by the Polish Divine Forgiveness Scale Predicts Reduced Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Catholics Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Kurzfassung/Abstract

This study aimed to adapt and validate the Polish version of the Divine Forgiveness Scale (DFS) and to examine its longitudinal associations with posttraumatic psychological outcomes among people living with human immunodeficiency virus. Although divine forgiveness (DF) is a potentially important spiritual resource, its measurement and psychological effects remain underexplored in non-English-speaking and clinical populations. Two complementary studies were conducted in Polish Catholic settings. Study 1 involved translation and psychometric evaluation of the DFS in a general adult sample (N = 379). Confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, and item response theory assessed the scale’s structure and consistency. Convergent validity was tested via correlations with well-being, depression, stress, spirituality, religiousness, and related forgiveness constructs. Study 2 used a three-wave cross-lagged panel model in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (N = 150) to examine prospective associations between DF, posttraumatic stress disorder, and posttraumatic growth. The Polish version of the DFS showed excellent psychometric properties, including unidimensional structure, high internal consistency (ω = .96; α = .95), and strong convergent validity. In the longitudinal model, higher levels of DF predicted lower posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms across time points, with stable and statistically significant effects (but not vice versa). No significant associations were observed between DF and posttraumatic growth. These findings support the DFS as a reliable tool for assessing DF in Polish Catholic contexts and suggest that perceived DF may buffer trauma-related distress among people living with human immunodeficiency virus. Clinicians and pastoral providers may address this dimension in trauma-informed interventions, consistent with clients’ beliefs.