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Open Access 13-12-2022 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Examining the Relationship of Clergy Distress, Spiritual Well-Being, Stress Management and Irritation to Life Satisfaction among Black Pastors in the USA

Author: Robert C. Rogers

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 3/2023

Abstract

This study sought to determine the level of clergy distress and other psychological characteristics of Black pastors and their relationship to life satisfaction through a convenience sample of 2786 Black pastors in historically Black Protestant denominations and nondenominational Black churches. The response rate equaled 10.1% (283/2786) while the survey completion rate equaled 77% (218/283). These 218 Black pastors were serving as either senior pastors (86.3%) or co-pastors (13.7%). This study found clergy distress in Black pastors did not differ based on gender or age but differed by church size and denomination. Clergy distress (r = − .187, p = .023) and irritation (r = − .293, p = .003) possessed significant relationships with satisfaction with life as expected, but stress management (r = .039, p = .641), spiritual well-being in daily life (r = .140, p = .140), and spiritual well-being in ministry (r = − .064, p = .475) did not, which was surprising. Notably strong relationships existed between stress management and spiritual well-being in daily life (r = .469, p = .003) and stress management and irritation (r = − .359, p = .003). These two important relationships may offer some guideposts for Black pastors in developing strategies to combat the impact of both clergy distress and irritation. The study concludes with implications for Black pastors and suggestions for future research.

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Title: Examining the Relationship of Clergy Distress, Spiritual Well-Being, Stress Management and Irritation to Life Satisfaction among Black Pastors in the USA
Author: Robert C. Rogers
Publication date: 13-12-2022
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 3/2023
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-022-01715-1

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Examining the Relationship of Clergy Distress, Spiritual Well-Being, Stress Management and Irritation to Life Satisfaction among Black Pastors in the USA

Abstract

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