Interpreting HFS Scores

Scores on the three HFS subscales can range from 6 to 42. Scores on the Total HFS can range from 18 to 126.

Forgiveness of Self Subscale

One’s score on the Forgiveness of Self subscale indicates how forgiving a person tends to be of oneself, with higher scores indicating higher levels of forgiveness, and lower scores indicating lower levels of forgiveness.

  • A score of 6 to 18 means that one is usually unforgiving of oneself.
  • A score of 19 to 29 means that one is about as likely to forgive oneself as that person is not to forgive oneself.
  • A score of 30 to 42 means that one is usually forgiving of oneself.

Forgiveness of Others Subscale

One’s score on the Forgiveness of Others subscale indicates how forgiving a person tends to be of other people, with higher scores indicating higher levels of forgiveness, and lower scores indicating lower levels of forgiveness.

  • A score of 6 to 18 means that one is usually unforgiving of other people.
  • A score of 19 to 29 means that one is about as likely to forgive others as that person is not to forgive others.
  • A score of 30 to 42 means that you are usually forgiving of other people.

Forgiveness of Situations Subscale

One’s score on the Forgiveness of Situations subscale indicates how forgiving a person tends to be of negative circumstances, events, or situations that are beyond anyone’s control (such as an illness or a natural disaster). Higher scores indicate higher levels of forgiveness, and lower scores indicate lower levels of forgiveness.

  • A score of 6 to 18 means that one is usually unforgiving of uncontrollable situations.
  • A score of 19 to 29 means that one is about as likely to forgive uncontrollable situations as that person is not to forgive uncontrollable situations.
  • A score of 30 to 42 means that one is usually forgiving of uncontrollable situations.

Total HFS

One’s score on the Total Heartland Forgiveness Scale indicates how forgiving a person tends to be of oneself, other people, and uncontrollable situations. Higher scores indicate higher levels of forgiveness, and lower scores indicate lower levels of forgiveness.

  • A score of 18 to 54 means that one is usually unforgiving of oneself, others, and uncontrollable situations.
  • A score of 55 to 89 means that one is about as likely to forgive, as one is not to forgive oneself, others, and uncontrollable situations.
  • A score of 90 to 126 means that one is usually forgiving of oneself, others, and uncontrollable situations.