The Resilience of Clergywomen?: Gender and the Relationship between Occupational Distress and Mental Health among Congregational Leaders

Abstract

Religious leaders face unique vocational challenges that place their mental health at risk. As the clergy as a profession has traditionally been male-dominated, clergywoman experience greater occupational stress than their clergymen colleagues, putting their mental health at additional risk. However, past research offers varied evidence on the gendered nature of clergy health, suggesting that clergywomen may be especially resilient to some difficulties of clergy work. Using panel data from the Clergy Health Initiative, a sample of United Methodist pastors from 2010 to 2021, this study examines clergy-specific occupational stress and its gendered relationship with depression. I find that, while clergywomen experience higher levels of occupational stress, the relationship between occupational stress and depression is weaker for clergywomen as compared to clergymen. This study thus offers a new perspective on the gendered nature of the pastorate: that clergywomen may be able to more effectively cope with vocational difficulties than clergymen.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Seminarians: Personal Experiences of Trauma and Implications for Pastoral Well-Being and Ministerial Training

“…The mental health and well-being of the clergy has been of interest to scholars of religion, religious organizations, and occupations for many years (Carroll, 2006; Ellison et al, 2010; Fichter, 1987; Holleman, 2023; Holleman & Eagle, 2023; Meisenhelder & Chandler, 2001; Miles et al, 2011; Rossetti, 2011; Wells, 2013). Mainline Protestant clergy, in particular, evidence higher rates of elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms compared with the general population (Edwards et al, 2020; Holleman & Eagle, 2023; Proeschold-Bell & Byassee, 2018). Similar patterns may exist among the Roman Catholic clergy (Edwards et al, 2020; Knox et al, 2005).…”

The Demographic Makeup of Congregations and Clergy Mental Health: A Research Note

“…The Barna Group, for example, reports that “pastors’ well-being—spiritually, mentally and emotionally—has decreased significantly” (https://www.barna.com/research/rest-sabbath/). Some researchers argue that religious leaders now have higher rates of depression than most other Americans (e.g., Proeschold-Bell et al 2013; see Holleman and Eagle 2023 for an alternative perspective). Clergy must cope with their own problems as well as those of their congregants, and this takes a toll on their mental health (Ellison et al 2010; Proeschold-Bell and Byassee 2018).…”

“…A growing body of research has shed light on the processes that lead to clergy mental health problems. This research emphasizes the high demands of the job, the emotional investment required, and the time commitment (e.g., Ellison et al 2010; Holleman 2023; Holleman and Eagle 2023; Proeschold-Bell and Byassee 2018).…”

“…Who religious leaders interact with in the course of their work is likely to impact their mental health. In terms of congregational characteristics, there appear to be some differences across religious traditions, with Catholic leaders reporting better mental health than Protestant leaders; and factors such as congregational growth and having a supportive congregation seem to mitigate clergy mental health problems (Holleman and Eagle 2023; Weaver et al 2002). But what about the congregants themselves?…”