Children’s Attachment to God: Associations With Parent-Child Attachment and God Concepts

Although past research has consistently documented that secure attachment to God is associated with positive outcomes in adults, such as higher levels of well-being and lower levels of emotional distress (Granqvist & Kirkpatrick, 2008; Hazan & Shaver, 1994), little research has focused on children\u27s attachment to God. In the present study I examined how factors such as parent-child attachment, parents\u27 own attachment to God, and children\u27s God concept may influence attachment to God in children (ages 6-8) from Christian families. Questionnaire data were collected from multiple informants (mothers, fathers, and children). Regression models predicting children\u27s avoidance and anxiety toward God were significant. Specifically, results indicated that children\u27s avoidance with mothers and fathers was associated with their avoidance toward God. Further, children who perceived God as more loving reported less avoidance toward God. Children\u27s anxiety with mothers also predicted their anxiety with God, such that children who reported greater anxiety with mothers also reported greater anxiety toward God. Further, children who perceived God as more punishing were more anxious toward God