Date
5-20-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)
Chair
Kristy Ford
Keywords
child adversity, adult attachment, maladaptive beliefs, God attachment, loneliness
Disciplines
Counseling
Recommended Citation
McNeal, Breanna, "A Quantitative Study on Loneliness: Exploring the Interaction Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Maladaptive Beliefs, Adult Attachment, and God Attachment" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8415.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8415
Abstract
The purpose of this quantitative study is to explore a moderated mediation analysis of the relationship between child adversity and loneliness when maladaptive beliefs are included as a mediator, along with adult attachment and God attachment as separate moderators with two subcategories (anxiety and avoidance). The results are based on 428 adult survey responses in which the key findings indicate that there is an initial direct effect between child adversity and loneliness, and that maladaptive beliefs mediate the relationship between child adversity and loneliness. Each of the moderated mediation models are supported only from the maladaptive beliefs to loneliness path with either God attachment (anxiety) or adult attachment (anxiety) as a moderator. Neither God attachment (avoidance) nor adult attachment (avoidance) are identified as moderators in any of the moderated mediation models. This study has implications for providing trauma informed and responsive care as it relates to relational and spiritual wellness through counseling, counselor education and supervision, and ministry. Future research is recommended to increase consistency of the variable terms and instruments within the literature, along with qualitative and longitudinal study explorations of these variables.
