Predicting Self-Regulated Learning Among Scholarship Recipient Students Working on a Thesis through Forgiveness and its Dimensions: The Mediating Role of Optimism

This study examines the relationship between forgiveness, optimism, and self- regulated learning (SRL) among students receiving government scholarships who are working on a thesis. The role of forgiveness according to its dimensions (of self, others, and situations) is also investigated. This study involves 183 students of Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia (age range from 20 to 24; MAge=21.43, SDAge=0.615) obtained through cluster random sampling. Using psychological scales of Forgiveness (40 items; α=0.903), Optimism (26 items; α=0.883), and Self-Regulated Learning (42 items; α=0.936) developed by researchers, the results of all bivariate Pearson Correlations show significant positive relationships. The path analysis shows the effect of forgiveness on SRL both directly and indirectly mediated by optimism. Among the forgiveness dimensions, only the self- forgiveness has a direct effect on SRL. Optimism partially mediates the effect of each forgiveness of self and situations on SRL. The forgiveness of others has neither direct nor indirect effect through mediation of optimism on SRL. Further analysis of the prevalence and the differences of variables are also examined. These results indicate the importance of further examination of the development of programs aimed at increasing forgiveness, specifically of self and situations, in order to promote optimism and SRL among Indonesian university students.