Tan, Hui Min, Lin, Patrick, and Ramsay, Jonathan (2026) Anxious attachment to God and scrupulosity mediate the negative effects of uncertainty on well-being among believers. Mental Health, Religion & Culture. (In Press)

PDF (Publisher Accepted Version) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

Past research has shown that scrupulosity inconsistently mediates the otherwise positive relationship between religiosity and well-being, while uncertainty and God-related attachment anxiety have also been shown to influence these processes. The present study sought to experimentally examine the effects of uncertainty on well-being, with anxious attachment to God and scrupulosity functioning as mediators of this process. Participants (N = 301) who believe in God (or supernatural agents) were randomly assigned to either uncertainty, dental pain, or picturesque scenery conditions before completing measures of the proposed mediators and indices of mental health. Sequential mediation results indicated that the effects of uncertainty on well-being were partially, and on anxiety were fully, mediated by anxious attachment to God (MV1) and scrupulosity (MV2). These findings highlight dangers of maladaptive religious schemas becoming more influential under conditions of uncertainty, making negative mental health outcomes more likely. Limitations and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Item ID:	90930
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1469-9737
Copyright Information:	© 2026 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2026 02:44
FoR Codes:	52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520399 Clinical and health psychology not elsewhere classified @ 50% 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified @ 50%
SEO Codes:	28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology @ 100%
	More Statistics