Attachment to God and meaning in life: the role of synchronicity awareness among ultra-Orthodox and secular individuals.

Résumé

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to explore cultural variations in meaning in life (MIL) by comparing ultra-Orthodox and secular individuals in Israel, examining the roles of attachment to God and synchronicity awareness.METHOD: A matched sample of ultra-Orthodox and secular participants completed measures of attachment to God, synchronicity awareness, synchronicity meaning-detection, and MIL. Participants were matched on age and gender using nearest neighbor matching. Measures included the Experiences in Close Relationships scale adapted for God attachment, the Synchronicity Awareness and Meaning-Detecting Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Path analysis was used to test the hypothesized relationships.RESULTS: Ultra-Orthodox individuals reported higher levels of anxious attachment to God and MIL, while secular individuals exhibited more avoidant attachment. Both groups showed similar levels of synchronicity awareness and meaning-detection. Insecure attachment styles to God (anxious and avoidant) were negatively associated with MIL. Mediation analyses indicated that synchronicity meaning-detection significantly mediated the relationship between anxious attachment to God and MIL, suggesting that interpreting coincidences as meaningful may enhance overall life meaning for those with anxious attachment. Synchronicity awareness did not mediate this relationship, highlighting the importance of active interpretation rather than mere recognition of events.DISCUSSION: The findings highlight the complex interplay between religious affiliation, attachment to God, and synchronicity experiences in shaping perceptions of life meaning across different cultural contexts. The study extends attachment theory and synchronicity research, offering insights into meaning-making processes and wellbeing. Future research should employ longitudinal and experimental designs to further validate these relationships and explore implications for enhancing MIL across diverse populations.