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Insecure Attachment to God and Perceived Wellness at a US Private University
Avery N Encalade1, Cindy L Miller-Perrin2
1Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Letters, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA. aencalad@nd.edu.
Journal of Religion and Health
|July 18, 2026
Summary
Secure attachment to God is linked to better psychological well-being. Insecure attachment styles, particularly anxious attachment, predict lower well-being, highlighting the divine as a key factor in mental health.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Attachment theory explains infant-God relationships.
- God is often viewed as a divine attachment figure.
- Previous research links God attachment to negative outcomes, but well-being effects are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how insecure attachment to God impacts psychological well-being.
- To examine the relationship between God attachment styles and perceived wellness.
Main Methods:
- 986 undergraduate students completed surveys on God attachment and wellness.
- Correlation and hierarchical regression analyses were used.
- Demographic factors were controlled for.
Main Results:
- Secure attachment to God positively correlated with well-being.
- Insecure attachment styles (anxious, avoidant) were inversely related to well-being.
- Anxious attachment was the strongest predictor of diminished psychological well-being.
Conclusions:
- Attachment to God significantly influences psychological well-being.
- Insecure attachment, especially anxious, negatively affects wellness.
- Understanding divine attachment is crucial for promoting mental health and well-being.
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