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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