The Influence of Work-Related Stressors on Clergy Husbands and Their Wives

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to expand the understanding of clergy families by examining work-related stressors that affect their marital, parental, and global life satisfaction. Thomas and Cornwall (1990) found that clergy and their spouses have remained relatively unstudied in empirical literature. This was reflected by only five articles on this topic being published in family science and theological journals over the past decade. This is unfortunate, considering that there are approximately 500,000 clergy in the U.S., many of whom serve as role models and pastoral counselors for approximately 142 million parishioners (Jacquet, 1991). This study extended previous research involving clergy families, as it utilized random sampling procedures, standardized instrumentation, and statistical analyses that extend beyond a descriptive level, and included clergy and their spouses from multiple denominations. Much of the earlier research with clergy families was done with small, nonrepresentative samples drawn from one denomination, was anecdotal or based on pastoral care clinical work, and did not include reports from spouses (Baker & Scott, 1992; Houts, 1982). A further extension of earlier research is the inclusion of the dimension of parental satisfaction. While marital and life satisfaction have a long history as variables examined in the family science literature, parental satisfaction has emerged only recently as an important dimension meriting attention (Cheng, Taylor, & Ladewig, 1991; Thomas, 1988; Thomas & Roghaar, 1990; Umberson, 1989). LITERATURE REVIEW Clergy Families and Work-Related Stressors Stress research has historically focused on the impact of external stressors that create long-term demands on the family (Lavee, McCubbin, & Olson, 1987). Stress research that has examined the impact of work-related stressors on marital satisfaction and family functioning has typically concluded that these stressors impede the achievement of a satisfying balance between work and family life (Portner, 1983). Clergy families, like other professional family types (e.g., executive families), are subject to occupationally related stressors that place heavy strains and demands on their resources, which can inhibit the growth of members and satisfaction with intrafamily relationships (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983). Presnell (1977), Hulme (1985), and Lee and Balswick (1989) contended that the ministerial family operated in a unique built-in community context, with ambiguous separations between their professional and private lives. Deluca (1980) labeled the clergy profession a holy crossfire, as the clergy person and his/her family attempt to juggle the expectations of self, family, congregation, denomination, and God. Bochini (1991) recommended that stress research involving clergy families should identify and differentiate the various forms of stressors experienced by clergy families. Blanton's (1992) review of the clergy family literature indicated that there were at least five external stressors. Specifically, these stressors were associated with issues of mobility, financial compensation, expectations and time demands, intrusions of family boundaries, and social support. The stressor reflects the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive adjustments associated with the relocation process (Blanton, Morris, & Anderson, 1990). Frequent relocations undermine the family's sense of confidence in settling down. Anderson and Stark (1988) found that occupational groups with high rates of contained members that displayed symptoms (e.g., loss of support networks, greater role burdens, disruption of personal growth and development, and marital and family dysfunction) associated with mobility syndrome. Clergy families often feel they have limited involvement or are not consulted by church members and/or denominational superiors concerning relocation decisions (Houts, 1982). …