This study explored the associations between adult attachment style, coping style, religious beliefs, and experiences with grief. Participants from local bereavement and religious groups completed questionnaires about these constructs.
Hyp. 1-2 predicted that greater endorsement of Secure and Dismissingly Avoidant attachment styles would be associated with less Subjective Distress. Results partially supported these hypotheses. Hyp. 3-6 predicted that the relationship between a Substitute Attachment Figure and adult attachment style would be associated with religious beliefs. Results did not support these hypotheses. Hyp. 7-9 predicted that greater endorsement of Secure and Dismissingly Avoidant attachment styles would be associated with more problem solving strategies. Higher endorsement of a Fearfully Avoidant attachment style would be associated with greater avoidance while higher endorsement of a Preoccupied style of attachment would be associated with more rumination. Results partially supported these hypotheses. Discussion centers on the qualitative aspects of the Substitute Attachment Figures and suggestions for future research.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study explored the associations between adult attachment style, coping style, religious beliefs, and experiences with grief. Participants from local bereavement and religious groups completed questionnaires about these constructs.</p> <p>Hyp. 1-2 predicted that greater endorsement of Secure and Dismissingly Avoidant attachment styles would be associated with less Subjective Distress. Results partially supported these hypotheses. Hyp. 3-6 predicted that the relationship between a Substitute Attachment Figure and adult attachment style would be associated with religious beliefs. Results did not support these hypotheses. Hyp. 7-9 predicted that greater endorsement of Secure and Dismissingly Avoidant attachment styles would be associated with more problem solving strategies. Higher endorsement of a Fearfully Avoidant attachment style would be associated with greater avoidance while higher endorsement of a Preoccupied style of attachment would be associated with more rumination. Results partially supported these hypotheses. Discussion centers on the qualitative aspects of the Substitute Attachment Figures and suggestions for future research.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Wice, Sarah"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Alida Westman, Ph.D., Chair","Alissa Huthbocks, Ph.D.","Ellen Koch, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2009-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:30Z","subjects":["Attachment behavior","Bereavement","Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/169","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Alida Westman, Ph.D., Chair","Alissa Huthbocks, Ph.D.","Ellen Koch, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Wice, Sarah"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Attachment behavior","Bereavement","Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/169"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study explored the associations between adult attachment style, coping style, religious beliefs, and experiences with grief. Participants from local bereavement and religious groups completed questionnaires about these constructs.
Hyp. 1-2 predicted that greater endorsement of Secure and Dismissingly Avoidant attachment styles would be associated with less Subjective Distress. Results partially supported these hypotheses. Hyp. 3-6 predicted that the relationship between a Substitute Attachment Figure and adult attachment style would be associated with religious beliefs. Results did not support these hypotheses. Hyp. 7-9 predicted that greater endorsement of Secure and Dismissingly Avoidant attachment styles would be associated with more problem solving strategies. Higher endorsement of a Fearfully Avoidant attachment style would be associated with greater avoidance while higher endorsement of a Preoccupied style of attachment would be associated with more rumination. Results partially supported these hypotheses. Discussion centers on the qualitative aspects of the Substitute Attachment Figures and suggestions for future research.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The influence of adult attachment styles on coping with bereavement"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Alida Westman, Ph.D., Chair","Alissa Huthbocks, Ph.D.","Ellen Koch, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Wice, Sarah"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study explored the associations between adult attachment style, coping style, religious beliefs, and experiences with grief. Participants from local bereavement and religious groups completed questionnaires about these constructs.
Hyp. 1-2 predicted that greater endorsement of Secure and Dismissingly Avoidant attachment styles would be associated with less Subjective Distress. Results partially supported these hypotheses. Hyp. 3-6 predicted that the relationship between a Substitute Attachment Figure and adult attachment style would be associated with religious beliefs. Results did not support these hypotheses. Hyp. 7-9 predicted that greater endorsement of Secure and Dismissingly Avoidant attachment styles would be associated with more problem solving strategies. Higher endorsement of a Fearfully Avoidant attachment style would be associated with greater avoidance while higher endorsement of a Preoccupied style of attachment would be associated with more rumination. Results partially supported these hypotheses. Discussion centers on the qualitative aspects of the Substitute Attachment Figures and suggestions for future research.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/169"],"dc:subject":["Attachment behavior","Bereavement","Psychology"],"dc:title":["The influence of adult attachment styles on coping with bereavement"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:30Z"}