Spiritual Life and Attachment 1
Spiritual Life and Attachment
Zachary Jordan Pilfold
MHS 555: Lifespan Development
Concordia University, NE
Professor Durheim
Fall A 2015
October 4, 2015
Introduction
The act of leading a spiritual life here in the United States of America and around the world has been found to have a number of documented benefits for increasing one’s psychological, emotional, and even physical well-being. Due to this, an analysis of current research on the topic of leading a global spiritual life and its subsequent health benefits will be examined in this paper.
Specifically, the health benefits of spiritual attachment as it relates to Christian’s will be analyzed. By analyzing spiritual attachment in Christians it is thought that one can actually increase their overall health because of the strength of the attachments they form with people who are similar to themselves by way of values, beliefs, and even actions especially here in the United States of America which is predominately Christian.
Attachment Theory
According to Freeze and DiTammaso (2015) attachment theory was originally created by John “Bowlby” in 1969 when he stressed the important of bonding with caregivers (p. 60). Attachment theory then states that human comfort and contact is actively sought out in situations that are charged with stressful or life threatening situations. Depending on how the person who is sought out responds to the individual in need this thus helps form the bonds needed for attachment. The attachment then comes down to one where the person sought out provides safety and protection in some way to the one distressed. According to Miner, Dowson , and Malone (2014) if psychological needs are satisfied then this facilitates “attachment security” and increased physical and emotional well-being (p. 326).
Over the course of time these responses help to form patterns on how the individual relates to self and others during different situations and relationships. This is because a strong sense of personal security and exploration have thus been reinforced over a span of time. It’s important to note that attachment doesn’t necessarily emerge but rather “develops” in a series of phases (Santrock, 2014, p. 336). However, separation from these persons of bond or caregivers tends to create anxiety and grief for the individual seeking.
Research on Christian Attachment and Health Benefits
From an early age humans are socialized to form attachments with others throughout the course of one’s lifespan so that relationships can be formed, nurtured, and cared for in a positive and lasting manner. These relationships are most often formed within the family, with romantic partners, with peers, even with community organizations. One common organization that helps to facilitate attachment then is that of spiritual bodies or organizations. Attachment within spiritual bodies then relates more so to the attachment formed between themselves and God and their fellow church family members. To examine this attachment researchers by the name of Tracy Freeze and Enrico DiTammaso conducted studies looking at Christian spiritual attachment and subsequent relationship attachment to others within their own spiritual bodies of choice.
In all 117 individuals from Protestant churches and another 185 individuals from Baptist churches were asked to participate by way of self-report and questionnaires for Freeze and DiTammaso’s study. These self-reports were actively used to gauge the impact an individual’s social and psychological well-being. According to Freeze and DiTammaso (2015) results showed that community church organizations are indeed supportive of creating effective “attachment” to othersthus increasing one’s psychological, emotional, and even physical well-being (p. 60).
Specifically, it was found that spiritual life attachments thus increased one’s “coping, body image,” and personal health outcomes as was reported in persons that were older in age who were subsequently surveyed (Freeze and DiTammaso, 2014, p. 61). Lower levels of anxiety were also found in persons with a strong spiritual life side to themselves who would also be classified as being older. However, it is important to note that further research will be needed to help distinguish between general support and effective attachment health benefits.
Conclusion
According to current research the act of leading a spiritual life by Christians today here in the United States of America and around the world has been found to have a number of documented benefits for increasing one’s psychological, emotional, and even physical well-being. Specifically, research has found that positive coping, body image, and health outcomes are all associated with living a spiritually enriching life due mainly to one’s attachment and development as a person within a religious institution.
When it comes to my own life I concur with this research. Through my spiritual life I have found people that I can count on to help me through troubling or distressed situations. When it comes to body image as Christians we are taught that God created us in his image and thus each person should not be judged but rather celebrated.
Reference
Freeze, T. A., & DiTommaso, E. (2015). Attachment to God and Church Family: Predictors of Spiritual and Psychological Well-Being. Journal Of Psychology & Christianity, 34(1), 60-72.
Miner, M., Dowson, M., & Malone, K. (2014). Attachment to God, Psychological Need Satisfaction, and Psychological Well-Being Among Christians. Journal Of Psychology & Theology, 42(4), 326-342.
Santrock, J. W. (2014). A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development. (7th Ed.). Dallas,
Texas: McGraw-Hill.