Echoes of Perceived Childhood Experiences: Exploring the Relation between Parental Acceptance-Rejection and Later Attachment to God

The development of a relationship with God involves a tapestry of cognitive and emotional factors, intertwined with personal experiences and cultural influences. Among these factors, an individual’s relationship with their caregivers is accentuated as it influences perceptions of the world and the Divine. The current study investigated the relation between perceived parental (both maternal and paternal) acceptance-rejection and later attachment to God. To test this association, 180 Muslim Egyptian adults were given the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) and the Attachment to God Inventory (AGI). Findings revealed a positive correlation between perceived parental rejection (both maternal and paternal) in childhood and an anxious attachment to God in adulthood. Furthermore, perceived maternal rejection in childhood was negatively correlated with the respondents’ current level of religiosity. The implications of perceived childhood experiences with primary caregivers are further discussed in light of later developing a secure relationship with God.