Grudge-Holding Tendencies and Psychological Distress among Young Adults

Persistent resentment toward someone who has caused harm reflects distinct motivational patterns that can shape emotional well-being. This study explored how three responses to interpersonal wrongdoing avoidance, revenge, and benevolence relate to psychological distress in young adults, with special attention to gender-based differences. Participants completed validated self-report instruments, namely the Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations Scale (TRIM-18) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). The data were examined using Pearson’s correlation analysis to determine associations among the variables. The analysis indicated a clear positive association between revenge-oriented motivation and levels of psychological distress, with this link appearing stronger among male participants. In contrast, avoidance motivation showed more pronounced connections with symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression among female participants. Benevolent motivation, reflecting forgiving or goodwill-oriented responses, displayed inverse but statistically non-significant relationships with distress indicators in both groups. These findings highlight that the ways young adults cognitively and emotionally respond to interpersonal offenses are meaningfully related to their mental health. Moreover, the results suggest that these patterns operate differently across genders, underscoring the importance of considering gender-sensitive perspectives when examining coping responses to interpersonal harm. Overall, motivational reactions to transgressions appear to play a notable role in shaping psychological adjustment during young adulthood.