Validation of the Marital Offense‐Specific Forgiveness Scale ( MOFS ): Invariance Measurement Across Christian and Muslim Couples in Germany

Forgiveness is a critical factor in marital stability and satisfaction, particularly within religiously diverse societies where interpretations of relational offenses may differ. This study assessed the measurement invariance of the Marital Offense‐Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS) across Muslim and Christian adults in Germany. A total of 935 participants (287 Muslims, 648 Christians) were recruited from Catholic and Muslim congregations in Germany through convenience sampling. Multi‐group confirmatory factor analysis supported the two‐factor structure of the MOFS—Benevolence and Resentment/Avoidance—and demonstrated configural, metric, and partial scalar invariance, enabling meaningful cross‐group comparisons. Full scalar and residual invariance were not established. Latent mean analyses revealed significantly higher resentment/avoidance among Christian participants, with no significant group differences in Benevolence. These findings support the cross‐religious validity of the MOFS and underscore the role of cultural and religious contexts in shaping emotional responses to marital offenses. Clinical implications for interventions with interfaith couples are discussed, and future research directions include the exploration of additional cultural factors and the use of longitudinal designs.