Attachment to God as a source of struggle and strength : exploring the association between Christians' relationship with God and their emotional wellbeing
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Date
2010
DOI
Open Access Location
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Massey University
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Abstract
Research has highlighted the significant implications of spirituality for mental
health and therapy. However, a key facet of spirituality yet to receive adequate
research attention is people’s experience of their relationship with God. One useful
theoretical framework recently applied to this relationship is attachment theory.
Research suggests that many people experience their relationship with God as an
attachment bond, and that styles of attachment to God (ATG) may have implications
for mental health similar to human attachment. However, few studies have directly
investigated the relationship between ATG and mental health, and limitations of these
studies make it difficult to draw conclusions. The present study provides a more
rigorous exploration of this relationship through the use of a cross-lagged research
design, advanced statistical modelling, and investigation of potential moderators
(gender and negative events). A convenience sample of 531 Christian adults was
surveyed at two time points approximately four months apart. ATG was measured on
two dimensions: ATG-avoidance (avoidance of intimacy with/dependence on God)
and ATG-anxiety (preoccupations and fears regarding God’s rejection). Higher levels
of baseline ATG-anxiety predicted poorer emotional wellbeing at Time 2, after
controlling for baseline emotional wellbeing. This effect was stronger amongst
participants experiencing a high level of negative events. Findings also indicate a
potential mechanism for this effect. Specifically, ATG-anxiety was associated with a
tendency to appraise negative events as indicating God’s abandonment/punishment.
These appraisals mediated the relationship between ATG-anxiety and emotional
wellbeing. In contrast, low levels of ATG-anxiety buffered the effects of negative
events. The effects of ATG-anxiety were significant only amongst males, contrary to
hypotheses. ATG-avoidance did not show hypothesised effects on emotional wellbeing
in either gender. Possible limitations of the ATG-avoidance measure were noted, and
may have influenced findings. Suggestions were made as to how future studies might
address this potential measurement issue and other limitations of the study. Findings
indicate that ATG theory may have useful therapeutic applications, as proposed by
previous researchers. Specifically, the ATG framework may be useful for
conceptualising clients’ relationship with God and its effects on mental health,
although establishing this will ultimately require testing in clinical samples.
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Keywords
Attachment to God, Emotional wellbeing, Christians