Spirituality as compensation for low-quality social environments in childhood among young Kenyan men.

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 spi

SUBMITTER: Goodman ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8674957 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature