Kirkpatrick, L. A. (1998). God as a substitute attachment figure:
A longitudinal study of adult attachment style and religious change in
college students. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,
24, 961-973.
Abstract
In a two-wave survey study designed to extend and refine previous research
on religion as an attachment process, college students completed a four-category
attachment-style measure and several religiosity measures at Time 1; a
subsample also completed identical religiosity measures approximately four
months later (Time 2). Analysis of Time 1 data (N = 1126)
extended previous findings by demonstrating that positive mental models
of both self and others were related cross-sectionally to positive images
of God and perceived relationships with God. Longitudinal analyses
(N = 297) revealed that positive religious change over time was
predicted by negative models of self and positive models of others. Discussion
focuses on the dynamics of religious belief and change as a function of
psychological attachment processes.
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