Evidence that God Attachment Makes a Unique Contribution to Psychological Well-Being

Abstract

ABSTRACT A wealth of research links both adult attachment and God attachment to psychological well-being. The purpose of the studies presented here was to examine whether God attachment is uniquely related to well-being after controlling for adult attachment. In study 1, utilizing an undergraduate sample, God attachment anxiety was negatively related to self-esteem and positively associated with depression after controlling for adult attachment. Studies 2 and 3 used online samples. Study 2 found that God attachment anxiety was positively related to depression and both God attachment anxiety and avoidance were negatively associated with self-esteem after controlling for adult attachment. Study 3 examined four different measures of well-being. Controlling for adult attachment, both God attachment anxiety and avoidance were negatively related to psychological flourishing, positive experience, and life satisfaction, and God attachment anxiety was positively related to generalized anxiety. Studies 2 and 3 also revealed that theists securely attached to God were higher on every measure of well-being than were atheists, agnostics, and theists insecurely attached to God. Results are discussed in the context of resilience – the notion that secure attachment, in this case to God, promotes a psychological hardiness that helps in dealing with life stressors.