Exploring God attachment and cultural dynamics: early attachment experiences, God perception, and spiritual compensation among Chinese Christians.

This study explores how early attachment experiences and cultural values shape God attachment and perceptions among Chinese Christians. Drawing on Attachment Theory, the Compensation Hypothesis, and the Correspondence Hypothesis, thematic analysis was conducted on interviews with 11 participants. Th...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Mental Health, Religion & Culture Vol. 28; no. 8; pp. 819 - 836
Autor principal: Xu, Honghong
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Oct2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=195126639&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ssf
    uiTerm: 195126639
    longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson)
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        13674676
        36K
      jtl: Mental Health, Religion & Culture
      issn: 13674676
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Oct2025
      vid: 28
      iid: 8
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
    artinfo:
      ui:
        195126639
        10.1080/13674676.2025.2580399
      ppf: 819
      ppct: 17
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: Exploring God attachment and cultural dynamics: early attachment experiences, God perception, and spiritual compensation among Chinese Christians.
      aug:
        au: Xu, Honghong
        affil: Medical Psychology Department, School of Health Humanities, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
      su:
        China
        Christians
        Qualitative research
        Attachment behavior
        Interviewing
        Cultural values
        Psychology & religion
        Judgment sampling
        Thematic analysis
        Research methodology
      sug:
        subj:
          Christians
          Qualitative research
          Attachment behavior
          Interviewing
          Cultural values
          China
          Psychology & religion
          Judgment sampling
          Thematic analysis
          Research methodology
      keyword:
        attachment theory
        Chinese Christians
        compensation hypothesis
        cultural context
        filial piety
        God attachment
        spirituality
        attachment theory
        Chinese Christians
        compensation hypothesis
        cultural context
        filial piety
        God attachment
        spirituality
      ab: This study explores how early attachment experiences and cultural values shape God attachment and perceptions among Chinese Christians. Drawing on Attachment Theory, the Compensation Hypothesis, and the Correspondence Hypothesis, thematic analysis was conducted on interviews with 11 participants. The analysis revealed a predominant narrative of spiritual compensation, wherein individuals with insecure attachments to authoritarian caregivers found a secure haven in God. However, the study also identified significant divergent pathways, including a clear correspondence model rooted in secure attachment, challenging a monolithic interpretation of spiritual development in this context. Furthermore, the findings illuminate several mechanisms – such as corrective community experiences and social learning – that catalyzed the transformation of participants' God-images from a distant, authoritarian figure to a nurturing, loving presence. Findings highlight the intersection of filial piety, collectivism, and attachment patterns, expanding Attachment Theory into non-Western contexts. Implications for counselling, pastoral care, and cross-cultural psychology are discussed.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: N
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N