Relationship between attachment to parent and peer and psychological distance: the mediating effect of spiritual identity

Authors

Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Spiritual identity, defined as self-identification based on spirituality and spiritual experiences, has gained increasing attention during the past few years. The aim of this study was to assess several predictors and outcomes of spiritual identity based on a causal model.Methods: For this purpose, parent and peer attachment were considered as exogenous variables, spiritual identity was considered as a mediating variable, and psychological distance was considered as an endogenous variable. The statistical population of this study consisted of all bachelor students of the Shiraz University, Shiraz, southern Iran, during the 2012-2013 academic year. Thus, 398 students consisting of 255 women and 143 men were selected using the stratified cluster sampling method. The data collection tools consisted of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, the Social Dominance Orientation questionnaire, the Circle of Moral Regard questionnaire and the Spiritual Identity questionnaire. The reliability and validity of the instruments were measured using Cronbach’s alpha and factor analysis, respectively.Results: Results of factor analysis showed the two main factors of metaphysical and moral beliefs for spiritual identity questionnaire. Overall, results yield a desirable reliability and validity for scales. For analyzing the research model, Amos software was used. We found that moral beliefs had a mediating role with respect to the relationship between peer attachment and psychological distance, while parent attachment was not a direct or indirect predictor of psychological distance.Conclusion: Conclusively, close relationships and attachment to peers reduces psychological distance through the mediating role of moral beliefs.

References

  1. MacDonald DA. Identity and spirituality: Conventional and transpersonal perspective. Int J Transpersonal Stud. 2009;28:86-106.
  2. James W. The principles of psychology New York: Holt and Company; 1980.
  3. Allport GW. Becoming: Basic considerations for a psychology of personality. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press; 1995.
  4. Jung CG. Collected works. Symbols of transformation. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ; 1967.
  5. Maslow AH. Religion, values, and peak experiences. New York: Viking Press 1970.
  6. MacDonald DA. Spiritual identity: individual perspective. In: Schwartz SJ, Luyckx K, Vignoles VL, editors. Handbook of identity theory and research. 2011. p. 531-44.
  7. Wink P, Dillon M. Spiritual development across the life course: Findings from a longitudinal study. J Adult Dev. 2002;9:79-94.
  8. Kiesling C. My sense of spiritual self: A qualitative study of rol-related adult spiritual identity: Texas University; 2002.
  9. Poll JB, Smith TB. The spiritual self: Toward a conceptualization of spiritual identity development. J Psychol Theol. 2003;31:129-42.
  10. Friedman HL, Florida FM. The self- expansiveness level form: A conceptualization and measurement of a transpersonal construct. J Transpers Psychol. 1993;15:37-50.
  11. Cloninger CR, Svrakic DM, Przybeck TR. A psychological model of temperament and character. Archives General Psychiatr. 1993;50:975-90.
  12. Roehlkepartain EC, Benson PL, Scales PC, in (Eds.). , (pp ). Spiritual identity: Contextual perspectives. In: Schwartz SJ, Luyckx K, Vignoles VL, editors. Handbook of identity theory and research. 2011. p. 545-62.
  13. Blasi A. Moral cognition and moral action: A theoretical perspective. Dev Rev. 1983;3:178-210.
  14. Arnold ML. The place of morality in the adolescent self: Harvard University; 1993.
  15. Reynolds SJ, Ceranic TL. The effect of moral judgment and moral identity on moral behavior: An empirical examination of the moral individual. J Appl Psychol. 2007;92:1610-24.
  16. Reed A, Aquino KF. Moral identity and the expanding circle of moral regard toward out-groups. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2003;84:1270-86.
  17. Hardy SA, Bhattacharjee A, Reed A, Aquino KF. Moral identity and psychological distance: The case of adolescent parental socialization. J Adolesc. 2010;33:111-23.
  18. Liberman N, Trope Y, Stephan E. Psychological distance. In: Kruglanski AW, Higgins ET, editors. Social psychology: Handbook of basic principles New York: The Guilford Press; 2007. p. 353-81.
  19. Sidanius J, Levin S, Federico C, Pratto F. Legitimizing ideologies: The social dominance approach. In: Jost JT, Major B, editors. The psychology of legitimacy: Emerging perspective on ideology, justice, and intergroup relations. New York: Cambridge University Press; 2011. p. 307-31.
  20. Cassidy J, Shaver PR. Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications. New York: Guilford Press; 1999.
  21. Beyrami M, Mohammadpour V, Gholamzade M, Esmaili B. Comparison of happiness and willingness to communicate in attachment styles in university students. J Behav Sci. 2012;6:105-9.
  22. Duriez B, Soenens B, Vansteenkiste M. In search of the antecedents of adolescent authoritarianism: the relative contribution of parental goal promotion and parenting style dimensions. Eur J Pers. 2007;21:507–27.
  23. Farzanekhoo M, Yarmohammadian A, Mowlavi H. Effect of general family function on identity status of students. J Behav Sci. 2009;3:135-42.
  24. Arseth AK, Kroger J, Martinussen M, Marcia JE. Meta - analytic studies of identity status and the relational issues of attachment and intimacy. Identity: An Int J Theory Res. 2009;9:1-32.
  25. MacKinnon JL, Marcia JE. Concurring patterns of women’s identity status, attachment styles, and understanding of children s development. Int J Behav Dev. 2002;26:70-80.
  26. Baqeri K, Bahrami H, Jalali M. Relationship between attachment style and identity status in 15- 30 years old prisoners. J Appl Psychol. 2009;3:85-99.
  27. Hejazi E, Negahban salami M. Relationship between parent and peer attachment style and identity style in adolescence. J Psychol Educ. 2009;39:107-31.
  28. Imtiaz S, Naqvi I. Parental attachment and identity styles among adolescents: Moderating role of gender. Pakistan J Psychol Res. 2012;27:241-64.
  29. Haigler VF, Day HD, Marshall DD. Parental attachment and gender-role identity. Sex Roles. 1995;33:203-20.
  30. Meeus W, Oosterwegel A, Vollebergh W. Parental and peer attachment and identity development in adolescence. J Adolesce. 2002;25:93–106.
  31. Bowlby J. Attachment and loss. Attachment New York: Basic Books; 1969.
  32. Bartholomew K, Horowitz LM. Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991;61: 226-44.
  33. Armesden GC, Greenberg MT. The inventory parent and peer attachment: Individual difference and their relationship to psychological well-being in adolescence. J Youth Adolesce. 1987;16:427-53.
  34. Nickerson AB, Nagle RJ. Parent and peer attachment in late childhood and early adolescence. J Early Adolesc. 2005;25:223-49.
  35. Hazan c, Shaver PR. Attachment as an organizational framework for research on close relationships. Psychol Inquiry: An Int J Advance Psychol Theor. 1994;5:1-22.
  36. O'Koon J. Attachment to parents and peers in late adolescence and their relationship with self image. Adolesce. 1997;32:471-82.
  37. Howden JW. Development and psychometric characteristics of the Spirituality Assessment Scale. Dissertation Abstracts International. 1992;54.
  38. MacDonald DA. The development of a comprehensive factor analytically derived model of spirituality and its relationship to psychological functioning: University of Windsor; 1997.
  39. Beck U. Risck society: Toward a new modernity. London: Sage; 1992.
  40. Harvey MB. Development and psychology validation of the state-trait spirituality inventory: University of North Texas; 2004.
  41. Burke JL. Development and validation of the inclusive spirituality index: Lehigh University; 2004.
  42. Thoresen CE, Plante TG. Spirituality, religion, and health: What do we know and what should you know? Clinicians Research Digest. 2005;23:supplemental Bulletin.
  43. Cheek JM, Tropp LR, Chen LC, Underwood MK. Identity Orientation: Personal, Social, Collective Aspects of Identity. Los Angeles: 1994.
  44. Rahpeima S, Rostami R, Jowkar B, editors. Spiritual identity: study the role of gender and field education. Seventh Seminar of university student’s Mental Health; Isfahan University of Technology; 2014.
  45. Sidanius J, Pratto F. Social dominance: An intergroup theory of social hierarchy and oppression. New York: Cambridge University Press; 1999.
  46. Mikulincer M, Shaver PR. Attachment theory and intergroup bias: evidence that priming the secure base schema attenuates negative reactions to out-groups. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2001;81:97-115.
  47. Mikulincer M, Gillath O, Sapir-Lavid Y, Yaakobi E, Arias K, Tal-Aloni L, et al. Attachment theory and concern for others’welfare: evidence that activation of the sense of secure base promotes endorsement of self-transcendence values. Basic Appl Soc Psychol. 2003;25:299–312.
  48. Mikulincer M, Shaver PR, Gillath O, Nitzbreg RA. Attachment, caregiving, and altruism: Boosting attachment security increases compassion and helping. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2005;89:817–39.
  49. Beavers R, Hampson RB. The Beavers system model of family functioning. J Fam Ther. 2000;22:128-43.
  50. Kirkpatrick LA. An attachment theory approach to the psychology of religion. Int J Psychol Religion. 1992;2:3-28.
  51. Ainsworth MDS, Blehar MC, Waters E, Wall S. Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum; 1978.
  52. Kirkpatrick LA. The role of attachment in religious belief and behavior. Advances Pers Relationship. 1994;5:239-56.
  53. Sadeghi M, Mazaheri MA, Malek Asgar M. Parents, Self, and Important Others: Sources of God Image. J Behav Sci. 2008;2: 83-96.
  54. Brokaw BF, Edwards KJ. The relationship of God image to level of object relations development. J Psychol Theol. 1994;22:352-71.
  55. Hall TW, Brokaw BF. The relationship of spiritual maturity to level of object relations development and God image. Pastoral Psychol. 1995;43:373-91.
  56. Nelson MO. The concept of God and feelings toward parents. J Indiv Psychol. 1971;27:46-9.
International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

Volume 9, Issue 3
Autumn 2015
Pages 173-180

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics