RT Article
T1 Attachment to God, Stressful Life Events, and Changes in Psychological Distress
JF Review of religious research
VO 53
IS 4
SP 493
OP 511
A1 Ellison, Christopher G.
A1 Bradshaw, Matt
A1 Kuyel, Nilay
A1 Marcum, Jack P.
LA English
PB Springer
YR 2012
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1822418496
AB Considerable research shows that social relationships, attachments, and support systems promote emotional well-being. The present study adds to this literature by examining the connection between attachments to God and psychological distress. Analyzing longitudinal data (two waves) from a study of Presbyterian (PCUSA) elders and rank-and-file laypersons, results show that: (1) a secure attachment to God at baseline is associated with a decrease in distress over time; (2) a secure attachment to God buffers against the deleterious effects of stressful life events on distress; and (3) an anxious attachment to God exacerbates the harmful effects of stress. In these analyses, a secure attachment to God is a more robust predictor of changes in distress than many, more commonly studied variables including race, gender, SES, and church attendance. Future research should therefore replicate and extend this line of promising scholarship by examining additional outcomes such as psychiatric illness, physical health, and even mortality risk.
K1 Psychological Distress
K1 Stress
K1 Attachment Theory
K1 Mental Health
K1 Religion
DO 10.1007/s13644-011-0023-4