Although religion and spirituality (R/S) can be a protective factor for many, R/S can also be maladaptive in the form of R/S abuse and trauma. R/S abuse and trauma can have a significant impact on one's psychological functioning and has been positively associated with anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and R/S struggles. However, relatively few studies have explored the relationship between R/S abuse and attachment to God. This study helps address this gap in research by exploring the potential associations between R/S abuse and attachment to God in a sample of 308 adults who endorsed a current and/or past R/S identity. The current study found that (a) individuals with marginalized identities reported higher rates of R/S abuse than those with fewer or no marginalized identities, (b) individuals who reported more frequent R/S abuse reported higher levels of R/S struggles, depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms, even when controlling for other experiences of trauma and abuse, (c) length of time since one's conversion moderated the association between R/S abuse and God attachment anxiety and avoidance but not R/S deidentification, and (d) God attachment anxiety and avoidance did not moderate the relationship between R/S abuse and trauma-related symptoms or R/S deidentification. I conclude by discussing my findings considering attachment theory and the extant literature on R/S abuse. By better understanding R/S abuse, clinicians will be better equipped to interact with clients of diverse R/S identities, potentially utilizing R/S as a strength in addition to addressing the maladaptive aspects of R/S.

No description available.