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The Mediating Role of God Attachment Between Religiosity and Spirituality and Psychological Adjustment in Young Adults

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The Mediating Role of God Attachment Between Religiosity and Spirituality and Psychological Adjustment in Young Adults THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GOD ATTACHMENT BETWEEN RELIGIOSITY AND SPIRITUALITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT IN YOUNG ADULTS DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Shaalon Joules, M.A. ***** The Ohio State University 2007 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Professor Steven Beck, Adviser Professor Daniel Strunk _________________________________ Professor Thomas Nygren Adviser Psychology Graduate Program Copyright by Shaalon Joules 2007 ABSTRACT Abstract The current study examined the role of God attachment as a mediator of the relationship between religiosity and psychological adjustment and of the relationship between spirituality and psychological adjustment in a sample of young adults. Undergraduate psychology students completed questionnaires that assessed each of these variables. The study included participants of all faiths as well as atheists and agnostics. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the fit of the proposed model to the data collected. Two separate analyses were conducted: one set of analyses with atheists and agnostics included and another set with them excluded. Results based on all of the participants indicated a poor fit of the model to the data. Once atheists and agnostics were removed from the sample, there was a mediocre fit of the model to the data. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine whether the different types of religiosity: intrinsic, extrinsic, and quest subscales loaded onto the same factor as the spirituality subscales. The religiosity and spirituality subscales were subjected to a principal component analysis, followed by a varimax rotation. Results indicated that the intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity subscales and the spirituality subscales loaded onto one factor (Connection with the Divine), while quest subscales loaded onto a second factor (Quest). Finally, a one-way ANOVA found significant ethnic differences on the intrinsic and quest doubt religiosity scales, all of the spirituality scales, and all of the God ii attachment measures. The results of this study show that even though the model was not a close fit, young adults in this sample appear to be exploring their religious and spiritual beliefs as their means on the intrinsic, extrinsic, quest doubt, and quest tentativeness subscales were higher than comparable groups. This is congruent with the developmental task of identity formation during this period of life. Because young adults are also concerned with vocational choices, college life, friendships, and dating, they appear to have separated their religious and spiritual lives from their psychological well-being. Also, African-Americans in this sample were more religious, spiritual, and have a more secure attachment to God than Caucasians. If a client expresses the importance of these variables to his/her presenting problem, they may be important, useful mechanisms for mental health professionals to consider in treatment. Finally, quest does not seem to be a type of religiosity, rather it is different from religiosity and spirituality. iii Dedication Dedicated to my parents and sister for their utmost support and understanding iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgments I wish to thank my advisor, Dr. Steve Beck, for his intellectual support, understanding, and encouragement, which made this dissertation possible. I am indebted to Dr. SC Coleman for his statistical consulting, stimulating discussions, ideas, editing of my dissertation, and for all his help throughout this process. I also thank Dr. Dan Strunk for use of his lab and his thoughtful insights; Dr. Tom Nygren and Woojae Kim for statistical consulting; Bill Hemming for assistance with scheduling; my undergraduate assistants, Desiree Bergholz, Sheeva Mostoufi, Kris Pikkarainen, Lisa Minch, and Allison Peltier for collecting and entering data. I am grateful to Dr. Barbara Andersen, Cartha Sexton, Mary-Jane McDonald, Dr. Beth McCreary, Dr. Mitch Handelsman, and Terry Ransom-Flint for their kindness, advice, and support. I am thankful to Peter Selvaraj for his patience and emotional support, and help with technical issues. I am deeply thankful to my mother and sister for their advice, thoughtfulness, and help through this difficult process. Throughout my education my mother has spent much time reading over and giving me valuable suggestions on my papers. I am grateful. I thank my father for providing me a good life when I was growing up. Thank you to the rest of my family and friends for their well-wishes. Finally, I thank God for removing obstacles and blessing me to accomplish this in the year of 2006. v VITA Vita March 27, 1977…………………………..Born – Calicut, India 2001………………………………………M.A. Clinical Psychology, University of Colorado. 1998………………………………………B.A. Psychology, Minor in Political Science, University of Colorado. 2006 – 2007………………………………Doctoral Intern, Aurora Mental Health Center 2005 – 2006 & 2002-2003……………….University Fellow, The Ohio State University March 2006 – July 2006..………………...Psychology Extern, Stress and Health Study, The Ohio State University 2005 – 2006.…..…………….…………...Psychology Extern, Anxiety and Stress Disorders Clinic, The Ohio State University 2003 – 2005………………………………Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University January 2005 – June 2005..………………Psychology Extern, Counseling and Consultation Services, The Ohio State University 2003 – 2004………………………………Psychology Trainee, Psychological Services Clinic, The Ohio State University June 2004 – December 2004..……………Psychology Extern, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Ohio State University 2000 – 2001………………………………OBRA Evaluator, Jefferson Center for Mental Health 1999 – 2000………………………………Intern, Jefferson Center for Mental Health vi 1999 & January 2001 – May 2001……….Teaching Assistant, University of Colorado at Denver 1999 – 2000………………………………Online Teaching Assistant, University of Colorado at Denver FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Psychology Minor Field: Statistics Specializations: Clinical Psychology Adult Psychology vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract............................................................................................................................... ii Dedication.......................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... v List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... x List of Figures.................................................................................................................... xi Chapter: 1. Introduction......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Defining religion............................................................................................ 3 1.2 Psychology and religion................................................................................. 8 1.3 Attachment theory........................................................................................ 10 1.4 Religion as an attachment process ............................................................... 16 1.4.1 God as an attachment figure.......................................................... 16 1.4.2 Hypotheses about religious belief ................................................. 19 1.4.2.1 Correspondence hypothesis.......................................... 20 1.4.2.2 Compensatory hypothesis ............................................ 24 1.5 Religion and psychological adjustment ....................................................... 25 1.5.1 Religion as harmful ....................................................................... 26 1.5.2 Religion as helpful......................................................................... 29 1.5.3 Mixed results ................................................................................. 30 1.5.4 Mediators of religion and psychological adjustment..................... 31 1.6 Conception of one’s relationship with God ................................................. 34 1.6.1 God image and psychological well-being ..................................... 34 1.6.2 Relationship with God................................................................... 35 1.6.3 God attachment.............................................................................. 36 1.7 Religion and young adults ........................................................................... 38 1.8 Conclusions.................................................................................................. 41 2. The Present Study ............................................................................................. 43 2.1 Hypotheses................................................................................................... 45 2.2 Method ......................................................................................................... 45 viii 2.2.1 Participants .................................................................................... 45 2.2.2 Materials........................................................................................ 47 2.2.3 Procedure....................................................................................... 52 2.2.4 Statistical analysis ........................................................................
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