The relationship between attachment, primary emotions and positive/negative spirituality: a path analysis

Autor(en)

Anton Freund, Jürgen Fuchshuber, Giorgia Silani, Human-Friedrich Unterrainer

Abstrakt

Objective: The present study investigates what may influence individuals to experience their religiosity/spirituality as either subjectively positive [religious or spiritual (r/s) wellbeing] or as negative (r/s struggles). Drawing on existing literature attachment insecurity and the seven primary emotions as outlined by Jaak Panksepp in Affective Neuroscience are identified as likely influences. Methods: The final sample consisted of 340 participants (age: M = 36, SD = 14.2; 68.5% = female), among which 65% self-identified as religious/spiritual. A path analysis was conducted to test a proposed mediation model in which the expected effects of primary emotions (B-ANPS) on r/s wellbeing (MI-RSWB) and r/s struggles (RSSS) were mediated through attachment insecurity (ECR-RD8). Results: The data indicated that attachment insecurity fully mediated the relationships between the primary emotions SADNESS and LUST with r/s struggles. Furthermore, the primary emotions FEAR and ANGER displayed small direct effects on both r/s struggles and r/s wellbeing. Overall, the model, which demonstrated excellent model fit, was able to explain 30% of the variance of r/s struggles, 24% of attachment insecurity and 5% of r/s wellbeing. Conclusions: The findings suggest that primary emotions such as SADNESS and LUST substantially explain r/s struggles and that these relationships seem to be mediated through attachment. Moreover, r/s struggles seem to be qualitatively distinct from r/s wellbeing. Finally, a moderate link between LUST and attachment suggests that sexuality plays a significant role in (adult) attachment processes.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Klinische und Gesundheitspsychologie, Institut für Religionswissenschaft

Externe Organisation(en)

Universität Wien, Medizinische Universität Graz, Verein Grüner Kreis, Medizinische Universität Wien, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität

Journal

Frontiers in Public Health

Band

12

ISSN

2296-2565

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1375850

Publikationsdatum

06-2024

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

603909 Religionswissenschaft, 501001 Allgemeine Psychologie

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology, Neurology, Psychiatry and Mental health, Biological Psychiatry, Behavioral Neuroscience, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 – Gesundheit und Wohlergehen

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/b460ac9e-329a-48be-81eb-bf6ad5a704a6