ABSTRACT

This study explores the role of spirituality as a coping mechanism for poor social conditions in childhood, asking whether spirituality moderates poor childhood social conditions and suicide ideation, self-rated health and collective self-esteem among young Kenyan men. Measured outcomes were worse among men who recalled fewer memories of relational warmth and safety in childhood, and better among men who reported higher spirituality. Consistent with the “religion as attachment” framework, spirituality significantly moderated associations between suicide ideation, self-rated health and childhood relational warmth and safety. Contrary to expectations, the association between low childhood warmth and safety and collective self-esteem was exacerbated, rather than compensated for, by higher spirituality. We consider whether “a safe harbor” may exist for people higher in spirituality to accept and critique social arrangements, and whether such a situation might illuminate another way spirituality compensates for poor social environments.

摘要

本研究探讨了灵性作为应对儿童时期不良社会条件的一种机制的作用，询问灵性是否能缓和肯尼亚年轻男性不良的童年社会条件和自杀意念、健康自评和集体自尊。在那些回忆起童年时关系温暖和安全的记忆较少的男性中，测量结果更差，而在报告灵性较高的男性中测量结果更好。与“作为依恋的宗教”框架一致，灵性显着缓和了自杀意念、自评健康和童年关系温暖和安全之间的关联。与预期相反，较高的灵性加剧了，而不是补偿了童年时期低温暖和安全与集体自尊之间的关联。