Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Relationships and Sexual Health Attachment Styles

People who are securely and avoidantly attached to God experience less distress than those in the middle

by Emily Manis
April 11, 2022
in Attachment Styles, Mental Health, Psychology of Religion

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Religion can be a significant, comforting part of many peoples’ lives and has been linked to positive mental health outcomes. A study published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion suggests a more complicated relationship between religion and psychological wellbeing by focusing specifically on attachment to God.

Some heavily researched aspects of religion, such as salience and service attendance, have been shown to be associated with increased life satisfaction and decreased depression. Despite this positive relationship, religion has so many different aspects that it is difficult to ascertain if this relationship would be shown in conjunction with other parts. This study focuses on attachment to God and employs attachment theory to understand the relationship between this attachment and mental health.

Researchers W. Matthew Henderson and Blake Victor Kent used data from the 2010 Baylor Religion Survey, which included relevant information from 1,624 adult participants. This study utilized distress measures for dependent variables, including general distress, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, paranoia, obsession, and compulsion. Attachment to God, the independent variable, was measured using a nine-item scale that included questions such as “I feel that God is generally responsive to me.”

The authors of this study hypothesized that uncertainty in attachment to God would be related to higher levels of emotional distress and the results supported this. This study showed that participants who felt anxiously attached to God experiences higher levels of all of the distress measures utilized. The curvilinear relationship suggests that people who are securely and avoidantly attached to God experience less distress. Avoidant attachment had been shown as detrimental in previous research, but this study suggests that since much of the population aren’t socialized to believe in God or religion, it can be an appropriate and not distressing type of attachment for many.

“Essentially what we found is that those who are less avoidant and those who are more avoidant in their relationship with God both have lower levels of psychological distress,” Henderson explained in a news release.

“That challenges the existing research. These data suggest it’s only those in the middle, those who experience uncertainty in the relationship with God, and not the avoidant, that have worse mental health.”

This study took significant steps into further understanding the link between religion and well-being. Despite this, it has a few significant limitations. One such limitation is that the authors used data from over a decade ago, and it is distinctly possible that results would be different now, as society is everchanging. The sample gathered using the BRS is 86% Christian, which also makes it difficult to know if these results would generalize to other religions.

The study, “Attachment to God and Psychological Distress: Evidence of a Curvilinear Relationship“, was published December 9, 2021.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin19Send

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

One in four people may experience estrangement from a sibling in adulthood, study finds

Buzzing the brain with electricity can boost the willingness to engage in mental effort

Study links deviations in circadian rhythm patterns to psychiatric problems in adolescents

Study finds that poor sleep quality increases aggression, possibly by affecting emotional cognition

Virtual reality can inoculate people against the allure of alternative romantic partners, study finds

A history of intermittent fasting is associated with increased disordered eating behaviors

RECENT

Two “dark” personality traits help explain the link between childhood adversity and suicide risk

People are more inclined to get COVID-19 booster after reading tweets that target regret, study finds

Study links deviations in circadian rhythm patterns to psychiatric problems in adolescents

False confidence: Watching a simple video increases people’s belief in their own ability to land a plane

A history of intermittent fasting is associated with increased disordered eating behaviors

Psychologists developed a new measure of sexual anxiety sensitivity. It predicts some important sex-related outcomes.

Virtual reality can inoculate people against the allure of alternative romantic partners, study finds

Buzzing the brain with electricity can boost the willingness to engage in mental effort

Currently Playing

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Disclosing victim status reduces online dating matches regardless of race or sex

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Dark Triad
Longitudinal study examines the effects of adversity on wise reasoning

New study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying Solomon’s paradox

Social Psychology
Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Cognitive Science
New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

Relationships and Sexual Health
A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

Depression
Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Mental Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • About PsyPost
    • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.