Facets of Spirituality Diminish the Positive Relationship between Insecure Attachment and Mood Pathology in Young Adults

Abstract

Traditionally, in attachment theory, secure attachment has been linked to parameters of mental health, while insecure attachment has been associated with parameters of psychopathology. Furthermore, spirituality and attachment to God have been discussed as corresponding to, or compensating for, primary attachment experiences. Accordingly, they may contribute to mental health or to mental illness. In this cross-sectional observational study, we investigate attachment styles (Avoidant and Anxious Attachment; ECR-RD), spirituality (Religious and Existential Well-Being; MI-RSWB), and mood pathology (Anxiety, Depression, Somatization; BSI-18) in 481 (76% female) young adults (age range: 18–30 years) who had a Roman Catholic upbringing. In accordance with previous research, we found insecure attachment to be associated with low levels of spirituality. Furthermore, insecure attachment and low levels of spirituality were associated with higher levels of mood pathology. In hierarchical regression analyses, only Anxious Attachment positively predicted all three dimensions of mood pathology while Existential Well-Being–but not Religious Well-Being–was an additional negative predictor for Depression. Our results underline that spirituality can correspond to the attachment style, or may also compensate for insecure attachment. Higher Existential Well-Being–comprised of facets such as hope for a better future, forgiveness and the experience of sense and meaning–seems to have an especially corrective effect on mood pathology, independent of attachment styles. Our findings emphasize the vital role of existential well-being in young adults’ affective functioning, which might be considered in prevention and treatment. Further research in clinical surroundings is recommended.

Personality Influences the Relationship Between Primary Emotions and Religious/Spiritual Well-Being

“…For example, substance use disorders have been linked to a deficiency in personality development ( Bernstein et al, 1998 ; Trull et al, 2000 ) emotion regulation ( Goldstein and Volkow, 2011 ) as well as low RSWB ( Unterrainer et al, 2013 ). In addition, a lower RSWB was found to be linked to affective symptoms in non-clinical previous research ( Hiebler-Ragger et al, 2016 ). However, the established bio-psycho-social model of health and disease, first proposed by Engel (1977) , does not include these aspects of religiosity and spirituality.…”

“…Understanding the interactions between primary emotions, personality and RSWB could be of particular importance to clinical research, as these dimensions have been discussed in relation to various psychological disorders, e.g., ( Horton et al, 2015 ; Hiebler-Ragger et al, 2016 ; Unterrainer et al, 2017 ). For example, substance use disorders have been linked to a deficiency in personality development ( Bernstein et al, 1998 ; Trull et al, 2000 ) emotion regulation ( Goldstein and Volkow, 2011 ) as well as low RSWB ( Unterrainer et al, 2013 ).…”

“…SWB includes the God-related or transcendent dimension of Religious Well-Being (RWB) as well as the immanent dimension of Existential Well-Being (EWB) that is connected to life satisfaction and purpose without relying on a higher power ( Ledbetter et al, 1991 ). SWB was demonstrated to be positively correlated with various indicators of mental health such as more positive affective states and adequate stress coping strategies in clinical as well as non-clinical samples ( Ledbetter et al, 1991 ; Hiebler-Ragger et al, 2016 ). In the multifactorial expansion of this concept, the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being (MI-RSWB) ( Unterrainer et al, 2010 ), the initially two dimensions of RWB and EWB ( Ledbetter et al, 1991 ) have each been given three sub-dimensions: Hope Immanent, Forgiveness and Experiences of Sense and Meaning for EWB and Hope Transcendent, General Religiosity and Connectedness for RWB.…”

“…Furthermore, spirituality and religiousness have been linked to mental health in several studies ( Espíndola and Blay, 2013 ; Unterrainer et al, 2014 ; Hiebler-Ragger et al, 2016 ). However, studying the neurobiology of spiritual and religious experiences and well-being is a complicated task ( Perroud, 2009 ).…”

Depressive Symptoms and Addictive Behaviors in Young Adults After Childhood Trauma: The Mediating Role of Personality Organization and Despair

“…In fact, several empirical studies showed substantial associations between a prevalent borderline personality organization and SUD ( 44 , 45 ). Interestingly, connections between insecure attachment and symptoms of mood pathology, as well as addiction, can also be found in non-clinical populations ( 46 , 47 ).…”