Date
11-2009
Department
Counseling Department
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Chair
David Jenkins
Primary Subject Area
Health Sciences, Mental Health; Psychology, Developmental
Keywords
ACOA, alcohol, Attachment, God, relationship, satisfaction
Recommended Citation
Dumont, Karin McPeak, "God’s Shield: The Relationship between God Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, and Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACOA) Status in a Sample of Evangelical Graduate Counseling Students" (2009). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 288.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/288
Abstract
The conceptual framework for this study focused on adult attachments and adult relationship satisfaction being defined and supported by initial attachment style. The literature review consistently revealed that individuals with a secure attachment style report higher relationship satisfaction than individuals with an insecure style. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of attachment to God and a history of an alcoholic parent on adult relationship satisfaction while controlling for romantic attachment. A total of 267 participants from an evangelical graduate program in counseling were administered the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST), Attachment to God Inventory (AGI), Desirability of Control Scale (DC), Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Revised (ECR-R), Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD), and Relationship Satisfaction Questionnaire (RSAT). The data was then analyzed utilizing ANOVA, ANCOVA, and multiple regression. Results will benefit Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) and their family members, individuals providing services and counseling to ACOAs, religious leaders and church staff, counselor trainees, and graduate counseling programs. Potential implications and applications for the counseling field, the church, counselor trainees, and graduate counseling programs were discussed. Suggestions for future research on adult relationship satisfaction and God attachment in ACOAs were given.
