Eastern Kentucky University
Religiosity, Adult Attachment, and Attachment to God
Institution
Eastern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Rose Perrine
Abstract
In this study the relationship between adult attachment, religiosity, and attachment to God was investigated. Subjects were students from Eastern Kentucky University who have been, or are currently involved in, a romantic relationship. Subjects were given four questionnaires: an attachment questionnaire, two religiosity scales, and an attachment to God questionnaire. These were my predictions: 1) Primary Caregiver’s religious feelings will match securely attached subjects’ feelings more than insecurely attached subjects’ feelings; 2) Insecurely attached subjects will use religiosity to regulate affect more than securely attached subjects; 3) Avoidant (fearful and dismissing) subjects will display higher levels of frustration with God than secure and ambivalent subjects; 4) Avoidant (fearful and dismissing) subjects will display higher levels self-reliance (in relationship with God) than secure and ambivalent subjects; 5) Anxious/Ambivalent subjects will display higher levels of proximity-seeking (in relationship with God) than secure and avoidant subjects; 6) Anxious/Ambivalent subjects will display higher levels of ambivalence (in relationship with God) than secure and avoidant subjects; 7) Securely attached subjects will display higher levels of trust/confidence in God than avoidant and ambivalent subjects; 8) Anxious/Ambivalent subjects will display higher levels of jealousy/fear of abandonment (in relationship with God) than secure and avoidant subjects; and 9) Anxious/Ambivalent subjects will display higher levels of anxious clinging to God than secure and avoidant subjects.
Religiosity, Adult Attachment, and Attachment to God
In this study the relationship between adult attachment, religiosity, and attachment to God was investigated. Subjects were students from Eastern Kentucky University who have been, or are currently involved in, a romantic relationship. Subjects were given four questionnaires: an attachment questionnaire, two religiosity scales, and an attachment to God questionnaire. These were my predictions: 1) Primary Caregiver’s religious feelings will match securely attached subjects’ feelings more than insecurely attached subjects’ feelings; 2) Insecurely attached subjects will use religiosity to regulate affect more than securely attached subjects; 3) Avoidant (fearful and dismissing) subjects will display higher levels of frustration with God than secure and ambivalent subjects; 4) Avoidant (fearful and dismissing) subjects will display higher levels self-reliance (in relationship with God) than secure and ambivalent subjects; 5) Anxious/Ambivalent subjects will display higher levels of proximity-seeking (in relationship with God) than secure and avoidant subjects; 6) Anxious/Ambivalent subjects will display higher levels of ambivalence (in relationship with God) than secure and avoidant subjects; 7) Securely attached subjects will display higher levels of trust/confidence in God than avoidant and ambivalent subjects; 8) Anxious/Ambivalent subjects will display higher levels of jealousy/fear of abandonment (in relationship with God) than secure and avoidant subjects; and 9) Anxious/Ambivalent subjects will display higher levels of anxious clinging to God than secure and avoidant subjects.