Attachment to God as a predictor of death distress among Muslims

Abstract

Death anxiety, death obsession and death depression are the three dimensions of death distress, which can be influenced by religious variables. The current study examines whether attachment to God can predict death distress in Muslims. Sample data for the study were collected from 346 participants. The participants completed the Death Anxiety Scale, the Death Obsession Scale, the Death Depression Scale, and the Attachment to God Inventory. Data were analyzed using factor analysis and multiple regression analysis. The results of principal component analysis showed that death anxiety, death obsession and death depression were separate factors of death distress. The results confirmed that anxious attachment to God was a significant predictor of death anxiety, death obsession and death depression (p < 0.001). Consistent with previous studies and attachment theory, this finding emphasized the role of insecure attachment to God in increasing death distress and also in possible consequent psychopathology.