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Research Paper | Psychology | Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026 | Pages: 280 - 286 | India
Forgiveness, Affect, and Cognitive Distortions as Predictors of Psychological Well-Being among Muslim Adults in the UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract: Forgiveness is a central construct in both Islamic teachings and Positive Psychology, closely associated with emotional regulation, reduced distress, and enhanced psychological well-being. Integrating perspectives from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), affective science, and Islamic psychology, the present study examines how forgiveness, affect, and cognitive patterns predict psychological well-being among Muslim adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 108 participants. Standardized instruments, including the Islamic Forgiveness Scale, Heartland Forgiveness Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Cognitive Distortion Scale, and WHO-5 Well-Being Index, were used for data collection. Descriptive findings indicated high levels of Islamic forgiveness (M = 4.34) and moderate levels of positive affect (M = 2.84), while 31.5% of participants scored below the WHO-5 well-being cut-off. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between Islamic forgiveness and well-being (r = 0.20, p < .05), and between cognitive distortions and well- being (r = 0.21, p < .05), although the latter was in an unexpected direction. Multiple regression analysis showed that the overall model significantly predicted psychological well-being (R2 = 15.6%, p = 0.015), with cognitive distortions emerging as the strongest unique predictor (β = 0.25, p = 0.010), followed by positive affect (marginal significance). However, mediation analysis indicated that cognitive distortions did not mediate the relationship between forgiveness and well-being. Despite theoretical support for the roles of forgiveness and affect, findings should be interpreted cautiously due to low scale reliability, sample limitations, and unexpected associations. The study contributes to culturally sensitive mental health research by integrating spiritual, emotional, and cognitive dimensions, highlighting the need for improved measurement tools and more diverse samples in future research.
Keywords: Islamic Forgiveness, Positive Affect, Cognitive Distortions, Psychological Well-Being, Muslim Adults, UAE
How to Cite?: Noufal V P, "Forgiveness, Affect, and Cognitive Distortions as Predictors of Psychological Well-Being among Muslim Adults in the UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study", Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 280-286, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26805080536, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26805080536