From Familiy to Divine Ties: The Relationship Between Family Belonging and Attachment to God

Abstract

A sense of belonging is when an individual feels part of a community or a group and feels connected to thatgroup. Many factors can cause a sense of belonging and may differ from person to person. One of the sourcesof a sense of belonging is family belonging. People generally feel a sense of belonging to the family theywere born into and their family ties. This belonging plays an important role in shaping an individual’s identi-ty, values, and beliefs. Commitment to family and the adoption of religious and spiritual values in the familycan strengthen one’s connection to God. Shared religious practices among family members can help a personfind a community that supports their beliefs. This, in turn, can strengthen and deepen the connection to God.The primary purpose of this study is to reveal the nature of the relationship between family belonging and at-tachment to God in young adults. The study employs a quantitative approach, utilizing a relational survey de-sign. The study sample consisted of 329 young adults studying at Kastamonu University, including facultiesin education, theology, humanities and social sciences, communication, and engineering. “Family BelongingScale” developed by Mavili, Kesen, and Daşbaş, the “Attachment to God Scale” developed by Beck andMcDonald (2004) and adapted to Turkish culture by Subaşı were used as data collection tools. According tothe study results, increased family belongingness increases individuals’ secure attachment to God. This re-veals that strong family ties encourage individuals to perceive God as a source of trust. Higher levels of fami-ly belongingness indicate that individuals develop a less anxious attachment to God. Similarly, increasedfamily belongingness decreases individuals’ emotional distance from God, and they develop a less avoidantattachment style.