Attachment and Spiritual Maturity 64
between adult attachment and spiritual maturity. The hypotheses for total, vertical, and horizontal faith maturity were supported.
Although empirical research on attachment and spiritual maturity is sparse, these
results converge with the literature in supporting the relationship between secure
attachment and spiritual maturity. Several writers suggest that the relationship between
the two exists (Shackelford, 1978; Kirkpatrick, 1994; Noller, 1992). There also have been
a number of studies comparing God image and spiritual maturity including Brokaw &
Edwards (1994); Hall & Brokaw (1995); Hall, Brokaw, Edwards, & Pike (1996). Their
studies empirically supported the parallels between the quality of an individual' s
relationship with others and with God.
Kirkpatrick and Shaver (1990) measured the relationship between early childhood
attachment experience and religiosity. Their work showed some support, but did not
include adult attachment. There is a consensus that the relationship between attachment
history and religious belief is complex and needs further study.
There was a difference in the levels of significance between vertical and horizontal
faith maturity subscales. This may be explained by the differences found in the core
dimensions each subscale was measuring. There was more affect in the core dimensions of
Vertical Faith Maturity Subscale than in the core dimensions comprising the Horizontal
Faith Maturity Subscale. The core dimensions that comprise the Vertical Faith Maturity
Subscale measured constructs that are more closely related to attachment. It measured
aspects of trust and belief in God, including God's love, God' s guidance; and experiences
of the fruits of faith such as, freedom, peace, security, and self acceptance. The
Horizontal Subscale measured advocacy for social change, actions promoting social justice
and world peace, and actions to protect the ecology. Students would be less prone to be
involved in these actions of social change than a relational attachment to God. Even with
this limitation, secure adult attachment did demonstrate some role, although minimal, in
predicting Horizontal Faith Maturity.
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