‘Doh Beat Up’ and ‘Doh Take It on:’ Exploring Direct and Indirect Associations Between Religious Commitment, Self-Forgiveness and Self-Condemnation in Trinidad and Tobago

The cultural discourse metaphors ‘doh beat up’ and ‘doh take it on’ in Trinidad and Tobago capture the local sentiments of releasing self-condemnation after experiencing failure, wrongdoing, or circumstances beyond one’s control. In this study, we examined the direct and indirect relationships between religious commitment, self-forgiveness, and self-condemnation. Data were collected using an online survey of 259 adults (Mage = 40; 76% female) living in Trinidad and Tobago. Path analyses showed that higher religious commitment was directly associated with lower levels of shame. Value reorientation self-forgiveness was associated with increased guilt and shame, while esteem restoration self-forgiveness was associated with reduced shame. Tests of indirect effects showed that religious commitment was indirectly associated with self-condemnation through self-forgiveness. Our findings suggest that religious commitment and self-forgiveness may play a protective role in relation to self-condemnation among Caribbean adults. Nevertheless, the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation of these relationships.