“A Cord of Three Strands is Not Easily Broken”: An Empirical Investigation of Attachment-Based Small Group Functioning in the Christian Church

Abstract

In this study, the authors explored the relationship between adult attachment, church-based small group attachment, psychological functioning, faith maturity, God attachment, and Christian orthodoxy among a sample of Christian adults in Southern California (N = 138). The authors hypothesized that insecure church-based small group attachment would be positively associated with psychological maladjustment and insecure God attachment, and negatively associated with faith maturity and Christian orthodoxy, after controlling for insecure adult attachment. Findings partially supported the proposed hypotheses, revealing a positive association between anxious church-based small group attachment and anxiety-related symptoms, after controlling for anxious adult attachment. Moreover, anxious and avoidant church-based small group attachment was negatively associated with vertical faith maturity, after controlling for anxious and avoidant adult attachment. Finally, anxious and avoidant church-based small group attachment was positively associated with anxious and avoidant God attachment, after controlling for anxious and avoidant adult attachment. Recommendations for future research are provided, as are suggestions for small group leaders to utilize attachment theory to cultivate securely attached small groups within the Christian church.