Attachment Styles and Spiritual Maturity: The Role of Secure Attachment in Predicting Spiritual Maturity Among Seminary Students

Title

Attachment Styles and Spiritual Maturity: The Role of Secure Attachment in Predicting Spiritual Maturity Among Seminary Students

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School/Department

Talbot School of Theology

Description

This study investigates the relationships between secure child and adult attachment styles and their influence on spiritual maturity. A survey study of 216 seminary students was conducted using the Parental Bonding Instrument, Adult Attachment Scale, and the Faith Maturity Index. Previous research in attachment relationships suggests that early parental interactions generate internalized models of self and others which are carried forward to new relationships. 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; Maturation (Psychology) -- Religious aspects; Seminarians -- Psychology

Publication Date

6-1998

Document Type

Book

Publisher

Fuller Theological Seminary

City

Pasadena

Comments

A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Psychology Division of Marriage and Family Fuller Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy (Marital and Family Therapy) By Judith K. Ten Elshof June, 1998

Attachment Styles and Spiritual Maturity: The Role of Secure Attachment in Predicting Spiritual Maturity Among Seminary Students


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