Date

10-16-2024

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Diane Pearce

Keywords

attachment, moral injury, spirituality, intrinsic religiosity, military

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Extensive research indicates a convergence of emotional and neurobiological symptomatology between insecure attachment and moral injury among military veterans indicating a relationship may exist between attachment and moral injury. This quantitative correlational study aimed to investigate the relationship between attachment, moral injury, and intrinsic religiosity, addressing a gap in the research. This study included 42 United States residing participants all confirmed prior active military deployment to a war zone. Data was collected utilizing a single online survey to assess adult attachment, intrinsic religiosity, moral injury, and a demographic questionnaire. Bivariate correlations revealed that insecure anxious attachments positively correlated with intrinsic religiosity with a correlation of .40 (p<0.01). Insecure avoidant attachments were negatively correlated with intrinsic religiosity with a correlation of -.45 (p<0.01). A significant negative correlation was found between moral injury and intrinsic religiosity, r(40) = -.36, p =.018. The findings from the current research indicate the importance of intrinsic religiosity in the treatment of insecure attachments and moral injury, both of which extend beyond military communities.

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