Exploring Attachment and Spirituality among Christians in China

Abstract

As research on attachment has exploded, theories and studies on attachment and spirituality also flourished in the west. In contrast, similar researches are scarce in China. Are the attachment theories and measurements applicable universally? Are there any links between parental attachment and God attachment? The present study used mixed methods to examine these questions. First, 355 Christians from Mainland China finished the Relationship Structures Questionnaire (ECR-RS), Attachment to God Inventory, God Image Scales, and Chinese Personality Assessment Inventory-2. Next, a sample of 11 participants were purposefully selected for face-to-face interviews to provide an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon through their life stories and spiritual experiences. Survey results showed significant correlations between parental attachment and spirituality and supported the correspondence theory. Additionally, the higher scores on traditional cultural personality traits correlated with higher scores on insecure attachment. Analysis of themes across 11 cases further revealed patterns between secure/insecure parental attachment and God attachment. Application of western attachment scales in the context of Chinese characteristic parenting styles are discussed.