Title

Role of Secure Attachment in Predicting Spiritual Maturity of Students at a Conservative Seminary

School/Department

Talbot School of Theology

Publication Date

Summer 2000

Abstract

Previous research on attachment relationships suggests that early parental interactions generate internalized models of self and others—models which are carried forward in later relationships. In order to investigate the relationships between secure attachment styles and their collective influence on spiritual maturity, a survey of 216 seminary students was conducted using the Parental Bonding Instrument, Adult Attachment Scale, and the Faith Maturity Index. Secure adult attachment styles were predicted to relate positively with spiritual maturity. Findings of the study suggest that adult measures of secure attachment styles are correlated with faith maturity. Measures of parental bonding evidenced minimal associations with adult attachment styles and were weaker correlates of faith maturity. Secure adult attachment was a stronger predictor of faith maturity when compared to measures of parental bonding. Implications are offered for religious training institutions, the church, and the community.

Keywords

Seminarians; Spiritual formation

Publication Title

Journal of Psychology & Theology

Volume

28

Issue

2

First Page

99

Last Page

108

DOI of Published Version

10.1177/009164710002800202

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS