Attachment to God, depression and loss in late life: a longitudinal study. Issue 8 (14th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thauvoye, Evalyne; Granqvist, Pehr; Golovchanova, Nadezhda; Dezutter, Jessie
• Is Part Of: Mental health, religion & culture. Volume 21:Issue 8(2018)
• Page Start: 825
• Page End: 837
• Publication Date: 2018-09-14
• Subjects: Religion -- God -- attachment -- depressive symptoms -- bereavement -- ageing -- nursing home; Mental health -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; Religion and culture -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; Mentally ill -- Pastoral counseling of -- Periodicals; 306.461
• DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2018.1552671
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-4676

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Prior research shows that being anxiously and avoidantly attached to God is associated with psychologically problematic outcomes including depressive feelings. However, a clear understanding of how these insecure attachments to God are associated with depressive feelings is still missing. Therefore, a longitudinal study among 329 nursing home residents aged 65–99 was set up to investigate the prospective relation between anxious and avoidant attachment to God and the experience of depressive feelings, as well as whether this relation is moderated by a loss experience. That is, the loss of close relatives can be particularly stressful in late life, challenging existing attachment relationships and placing older adults at risk for depression. Results confirm that insecure attachments to God are distinctly related to depressive feelings, but that this relation is not moderated by a loss experience. Our results also show that depressive feelings predicts attachment to God, instead of the other way around.