State Self-Forgiveness Scale – SSFS
Measures a person's current state of self-forgiveness regarding a specific transgression, divided into self-forgiving feelings/actions and self-forgiving beliefs.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The State Self-Forgiveness Scale – SSFS was developed by Michael J. A. Wohl, L. DeShea, & R. L. Wahkinney (2008). It is designed to measure State Self-Forgiveness. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 17 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Self-Forgiving Feelings and Actions (SFFA), Self-Forgiving Beliefs (SFB).
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Forgiving Feelings and Actions (SFFA) | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | 8 |
| Self-Forgiving Beliefs (SFB) | 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 | 9 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all, 2 = A little, 3 = Mostly, 4 = Completely.
The scale includes 9 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 17 to 68. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low State Self-Forgiveness: 17 – 34
- Moderate State Self-Forgiveness: 35 – 51
- High State Self-Forgiveness: 52 – 68
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.