Influence of Occupational Stress on Quality Family Relationship among Clergy: A Case of Christ is the Answer Ministries, Kenya
Abstract
The role of clergy can be demanding, as they are tasked with providing spiritual guidance and support to their congregation. This responsibility can result in occupational stress, which can affect the clergy and their family relationships. This study investigated the influence of occupational stress on quality family relationships among clergy in Christ Is the Answer Ministries, Kenya (CITAM). A pragmatist lens which informs the adoption of mixed methods research design was used. Out of a sample size of 135, 115 respondents comprising 57 pastors, 40 spouses, and 18 children participated in the study. Ethical considerations were adhered to by receiving the necessary approvals and licenses before commencing the study. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and focus group discussions which were all done online. Quantitative data were analyzed using the linear regression technique in SPSS Version 28 and presented through tables. The qualitative data were transcribed and analysed using a thematic analysis approach with the identification of key themes. Findings showed that the clergy families have high-quality family relationships (x̅=3.4635, x = .37655). Thematic analysis revealed that having intentionality and maintaining clear boundaries between work and personal life would help clergy improve the quality of their family relationships. The study recommended that churches should collaborate with family therapists to offer therapy sessions to all members of the clergy.
Downloads
Metrics
PlumX Statistics
References
2. Asenahabi, B. M. (2019). Basics of research design: A guide to selecting appropriate research design. International Journal of Contemporary Applied Researches, 6(5), 76-89. https://DOI:10.21512/lc.v16i1.7752
3. Aulthouse, M. E. (2013). Clergy families: The helpless forgottens’ cry for help answered through reality therapy. https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/vistas/clergy-families-the-helpless-forgottens-cry-for-help.pdf?sfvrsn=11
4. Berry, S. A. (2022). The Case for Rest: A Qualitative Analysis of Self-Care Amongst African American Pastors and Ministry Leaders Through a Global Pandemic (Doctoral dissertation, Columbia International University). www.proquest.com/openview/b2893f140840a429379cf390dfa1611
5. Bloom, M. (2019). Flourishing in ministry: How to cultivate clergy wellbeing. Rowman & Littlefield.
6. Büssing, A., Baumann, K., Jacobs, C., & Frick, E. (2017). Spiritual dryness in Catholic priests: Internal resources as possible buffers. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 9(1), 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000063
7. Butler, L. D., Mercer, K. A., McClain-Meeder, K., Horne, D. M. & Dudley, M. (2019). Six domains of self-care: Attending to the whole person. Journal of Human
Behavior in the Social Environment, 29(1), 107-124. https://DOI:10.1080/10911359.2018.1482483
8. Casteel, A. & Bridier, N. L. (2021). Describing populations and samples in doctoral student research. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 16(1), 339-362. https://doi.org/10.28945/4766
9. Chai, C. P. (2020). The importance of data cleaning: three visualization examples. Chance, 33(1), 4-9. https://Doi:10.1080/09332480.2020.1726112
10. Chan, K., & Chen, M. (2019). Experience of Stress and Burnout among Pastors in China. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 73(4), 232-237. Doi.org/10.1177/1542305019886533
11. Chan, K., & Wong, M. (2018). Experience of stress and coping strategies among pastors’ wives in China. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 72(3), 163-171. https://doi.org/10.1177/1542305018782518
12. Choi, D. W., Han, K. T., Jeon, J., Ju, Y. J., & Park, E. C. (2020). Association between family conflict resolution methods and depressive symptoms in South Korea: a longitudinal study. Archives of women's mental health, 23, 123-129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-019-00957-5
13. Clarke, M. A. (2021). Understanding clergy resilience: A mixed methods research study (Doctoral dissertation, University of Saskatchewan). https://hdl.handle.net/10388/13496
14. Creswell, J., W. & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. London, UK: Sage.
15. Currier, J. M., Rojas-Flores, L., McCormick, W. H., Hwang Koo, J., Cadavid, L., Pineda, F. A., Le Roux, E., & Givens, T. (2019). Spiritual struggles and ministry-related quality of life among faith leaders in Colombia. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 11(2), 148–156. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000194
16. Dunbar, S., Frederick, T., Thai, Y., & Gill, J. (2020). Calling, caring, and connecting: burnout in Christian ministry. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 23(2), 173-186. https://DOI:10.1080/13674676.2020.1744548
17. Eagle, D. E., Hybels, C. F., & Proeschold-Bell, R. J. (2019). Perceived social support, received social support, and depression among clergy. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(7), 2055-2073. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407518776134
18. Edwards, L., Bretherton, R., Gresswell, M., & Sabin-Farrell, R. (2020). The relationship between social support, spiritual well-being, and depression in Christian clergy: a systematic literature review. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 23(10), 857-873. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2020.1838459
19. Fee, C. (2018). CausesLyte of burnout among church leaders: A qualitative phenomenological study of pastors. (Unpublished Dissertation). Walden University. Retrieved from: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article¼6356&context¼ dissertations
20. Flick, U. (2017). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Data Collection. London, UK: Sage.
21. Fosco, G. M., & Lydon‐Staley, D. M. (2020). Implications of family cohesion and conflict for adolescent mood and well‐being: Examining within‐and between‐family processes on a daily timescale. Family Process, 59(4), 1672-1689. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12515
22. Francis, L. J., & DLitt, D. D. (2018). Resilience and Wellbeing in Ministry: An empirical enquiry within the Church of Scotland. https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk
23. French, K. A., Dumani, S., Allen, T. D., & Shockley, K. M. (2018). A meta-analysis of work–family conflict and social support. Psychological bulletin, 144(3), 284. doi: 10.1037/bul0000120
24. Gibson, C. B. (2017). Elaboration, generalization, triangulation, and interpretation: On enhancing the value of mixed method research. Organizational Research Methods, 20(2), 193-223. https://Doi:10.1177/1094428116639133
25. Goldberg-Looney, L. D., Sánchez-SanSegundo, M., Ferrer-Cascales, R., Smith, E. R., Albaladejo-Blazquez, N., & Perrin, P. B. (2015). Adolescent drinking in Spain: Family relationship quality, rules, communication, and behaviors. Children and Youth Services Review, 58, 236–243. https://doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.09.02
26. Grevenstein, D., Bluemke, M., Schweitzer, J., & Aguilar-Raab, C. (2019). Better family relationships––higher well-being: The connection between relationship quality and health related resources. Mental health & prevention, 14, 200160. https://Doi.org/10.1016/j.mph.2019.200160
27. Guzman, N. E. Q., & Teh, L. A. (2016). Understanding the stresses and coping resources of Filipino clergy families: A multiple-case study. Pastoral psychology, 65(4), 459-480. Doi.org/10.1007/s11089-016-0698-0
28. Hamm, A. K., & Eagle, D. E. (2021). Clergy Who Leave Congregational Ministry: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 49(4), 291-307. https://doi.org/10.1177/00916471211011597
29. Hayes Sr, T. O. (2020). A Phenomenological Investigation of the Resilience and Success of African-American Pastors Serving in the Church of God in Christ. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2743
30. Hennink, M. M., Kaiser, B. N., & Weber, M. B. (2019). What influences saturation? Estimating sample sizes in focus group research. Qualitative health research, 29(10), 1483-1496. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732318821692
31. Hough, H., Proeschold-Bell, R., Liu, X., Weisner, C., Turner, E. ., Yao, J. (2018). Relationships between Sabbath observance and mental, physical, and spiritual health in clergy. Pastoral Psychology, 68(2), 171–193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-018-0838-9
32. Hricová, M. (2020). The mediating role of self-care activities in the stress-burnout relationship. Health Psychology Report, 8(1), 1-9. Doi.org/10.5114/hpr.2019.89988
33. Jones, P. D. (2021). Perceived Factors Contributing to Job Burnout among Lutheran Pastors: A Qualitative Study (Doctoral dissertation, University of Phoenix). https://www.proquest.com/openview/bd0abee435f8bdb4cab5fd473a259206/.
34. Joynt, S. (2018). Exodus of clergy:‘When the fight is just not worth it anymore’–The role of conflict in responding to the call. In die Skriflig, 52(1), 1-9.1. https://Doi.org/10.4102/ids.v52i1.2331
35. Kelle, U., Kühberger, C., & Bernhard, R. (2019). How to use mixed-methods and triangulation designs: An introduction to history education research. History Education Research Journal. https://DOI:10.1177/1094428116639133
36. Kim, S. S., Gil, M., & Kim‐Godwin, Y. (2021). Development and validation of the Family Relationship Assessment Scale in Korean college students’ families. Family process, 60(2), 586-601. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12559
37. Kimmons, R. (2022). Mixed Methods: How does one go about doing good mixed methods research? In R. Kimmons (Ed.), Education Research. BYU Open Textbook Network. https://open.byu.edu/education_research/mixed_methods.
38. Kyere, A. (2019). For God and man: A Study of the Clergy-Wife. Unpublished PhD thesis, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana.
39. Lee, A. A. (2017). Ministry longevity, family contentment, and the male clergy family: A phenomenological study of experience of ministry. (Unpublished Dissertation). Liberty University. https://www.proquest.com/openview/2b17554e7eaf171ca6b955b2e21bb2a6/1
40. Lee, C. & Rosales, A. (2020). Self-regard in pastoral ministry: Self-compassion versus self-criticism in a sample of United Methodist Clergy. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 48(1), 18-33. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091647119870290
41. Lee, H. C., & Fung, J. (2023). Associations Between Work–Family Conflict, Psychological Distress, and Well-Being Among Taiwanese Clergy. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 51(1), 32-47. https://doi.org/10.1177/00916471221099543
42. Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2019). Practical research. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice-Hall. Open Journal for Educational Research, 3(2), 67-80. https://lccn.loc.gov/2017059151
43. Lockwood, R. (2020). Pastoral stress: The urgent need for self-care. (Unpublished Dissertation). Liberty University. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2574
44. Lyte, A. Q. (2021). Pastors Coping with Burnout and Exhaustion (Doctoral dissertation, Northcentral University). https://www.proquest.com/openview/2362e4506ff4484c7bcbf56e405b29df/1
45. Madukwe, A. U., Njoku, E. C., & Dinneya, C. C. (2019). Occupational stress, transfer and age as predictors of job satisfaction among Imo Anglican clergymen. African Journal of Social and Behavioural Sciences, 9(1). https://journals.aphriapub.com/index.php/AJSBS/article/view/850
46. Maina, J. W., Kaaria, Z., Kivanguli, G. (2018). Effect of pastor’s church ministry on their family stability in Nairobi County, Kenya. European Scientific Journal, 14(29), 36-52. https://Doi:10.19044/esj.2018.v14n29p36
47. Maleki, A., Moghaddam, K., Cloninger, P., & Cullen, J. (2023). A cross-national study of youth entrepreneurship: The effect of family support. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 24(1), 44-57. https://DOI:10.1177/14657503211054284
48. Martin-Storey, A., Dirks,Ajiba M., Holfeld, B., Dryburgh, N. S. J., & Craig, W. (2021). Family relationship quality during the COVID-19 pandemic: The value of adolescent perceptions of change. Journal of Adolescence, 93(2021), 190-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.11.005
49. Murray, C. E., Ross, R., & Cannon, J. (2021). The happy, healthy, safe relationships continuum: Conceptualizing a spectrum of relationship quality to guide community-based healthy relationship promotion programming. The Family Journal, 29(1), 50-59. https://DOI:10.1177/1066480720960416
50. Muzenda, V. T. M. (2020). The impact of domestic violence on family cohesion: exploring a pastoral approach in the Masvingo Diocese (Doctoral dissertation).
51. Nkonge, G. (2020). The influence of pastoral church leadership on the behavior of pastors’ children: a case study of East Africa Pentecostal churches in Meru County. (Unpublished Thesis). Pan Africa Christian University. Pan Africa Christian University]. Kenya. http://dspace.pacuniversity.ac.ke:8080/
52. Noh, H. K., & Ross, N. (2020). Family conflict. Psychological Studies, 65(1), 30–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-019-00486-2
53. Obrenovic, B., Jianguo, D., Khudaykulov, A., & Khan, M. A. S. (2020). Work-family conflict impact on psychological safety and psychological well-being: A job performance model. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 475. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00475
54. Olson, D. H., Sprenkle, D. H., & Russell, C. S. (2019). Circumplex model of marital and family systems: I. Cohesion and adaptability dimensions, family types, and clinical applications. Family process, 18(1), 3-28. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.1979.00003.x
55. Omungo, R., Kihara, M., & Wachira, T. (2020). Prevalence of depression among older clergy from selected mainline churches in Nairobi, Kenya. International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research, 5(2), 394-403. https://Doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2020.v05i02.009
56. Pascucci, T., Hernández Sánchez, B., & Sánchez García, J. C. (2022). Being stressed in the family or married with work? A literature review and clustering of work-family conflict. European journal of management and business economics, 31(2), 239-265. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJMBE-06-2021-0191
57. Paterson, A., & Leung, D. (Eds.). (2016). Research methods for accounting and finance. A guide to writing your dissertation. Oxford, UK: Goodfellow Publishers Ltd. https://goodfellowpublishers.com/free_files
58. Pietkiewicz, I. J., & Bachryj, D. (2016). Help-seeking attitudes and coping strategies among Roman Catholic secular clergy. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 8(1), 13–24. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000019
59. Potts, D. J. (2020). As for Me and My House: Keys to a Flourishing Family and a Fulfilled Ministry. Wipf and Stock Publishers. https://books.google.co.ke/books
60. Potts, D. J. (2021). Suffering in silence: Examining the silent suffering of the wives of Christian clergy, advocating for their voice and value. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 75(1), 51-59. https://Doi:10.1177/1542305020968050
61. Repetti, R., & Wang, S. W. (2017). Effects of job stress on family relationships. Current opinion in psychology, 13, 15-18. Doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.03.010
62. Robertson, P. N. E., Norona, J. C., Lenger, K. A., & Olmstead, S. B. (2018). How do relationship stability and quality affect wellbeing? Romantic relationship trajectories, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction across 30 years. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27(1), 2171–2184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1052-1.
63. Roller, M. R. (2019). A quality approach to qualitative content analysis: Similarities and differences compared to other qualitative methods. Qualitative Social Research, 20(3), 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.17169/fqs-20.3.3385.
64. Ruiz-Prada, M., Fernández-Salinero, S., García-Ael, C., & Topa, G. (2021). Occupational stress and catholic priests: A scoping review of the literature. Journal of religion and health, 60, 3807-3870. https://Doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01352-0
65. Samau, B. & Schoeffel, P. (2015). Pastors’ daughters: boundary ambiguity or the Fishbowl Effect? Journal of Samoan Studies, 5(1), 88-96. http://dlibrary.aiu.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/488
66. Sharma, B. (2018). Processing of data and analysis. Biostatistics and Epidemiology, 1(1), 3-5. https://DOI:10.30881/beij.00003
67. Shaw, M., Lukman, R., Simmons, L. W., & Reynolds, R. (2021). Clergy wholeness study: How occupational distress, depression, and social support inform the health of clergy. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 75(1), 23-32. https://DOI:10.1177/1542305020968046
68. Sielaff, A. M., Davis, K. R., & McNeil, J. D. (2021). Literature review of clergy resilience and recommendations for future research. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 49(4), 308-323. Doi.org/10.1177/0091647120968136
69. Simpson, G. W. (2022). Burn On, Don't Burn Out: Factors That Promote Longevity in Ministry. https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd
70. Suleman Q, Hussain I, Shehzad S, Syed MA, Raja SA (2018) Relationship between perceived occupational stress and psychological well-being among secondary school heads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Plos One 13(12). https://Doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208143
71. Verrastro, V., Ritella, G., Saladino, V., Pistella, J., Baiocco, R., & Fontanesi, L. (2020). Personal and family correlates to happiness amongst Italian children and pre-adolescents. International Journal of Emotional Education, 12(1), 48-64. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1251781
72. Wajanathawornchai, W., & Blauw, J. N. (2018). The impact of spiritual well-being, calling, and religious coping on burnout, mediated by job stressors, among Thai protestant pastors. Scholar: Human Sciences, 10(1), 128-128. Retrieved from http://www.assumptionjournal.au.edu/index.php/Scholar/article/view/3319
73. Webb, B. L., & Chase, K. (2019). Occupational distress and health among a sample of Christian clergy. Pastoral Psychology, 68, 331-343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-018-0844-y
74. Woods, S. B. & Priest, J. B. (2020). Family versus intimate partners: Estimating who matters more for health in a 20-year longitudinal study. Journal of Family Psychology, 34(2), 247-256. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000600
75. Young, D. S., & Casey, E. A. (2019). An examination of the sufficiency of small qualitative samples. Social Work Research, 43(1), 53-58. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svy026
76. Zeng, Y., Ye Baojuan, Zhang, Y., & Yang, Q. (2021). Family Cohesion and Stress Consequences Among Chinese College Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Model. Journal of Frontiers in Public Health, 9. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.703899
Copyright (c) 2023 Veronica Kaari Makena, Anne G. Wambugu, Nathan H. Chiroma
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.