Religious Coping Among the Religious

The Relationships Between Religious Coping and Well-Being in a National Sample of Presbyterian Clergy, Elders, and Members

Bibliographic Data

ID2247193
AuthorsKenneth I Pargament (0000-0001-8488-7291, Bowling Green State University, corresponding author), Nalini Tarakeshwar (Bowling Green State University, corresponding author), C G Ellison (0000-0002-6585-5160, The University of Texas at Austin, corresponding author), Keith M Wulff, Keith Wulff (Union Presbyterian Seminary, corresponding author)
Year2001
Volume40
Issue3
Pages497-513
Publication date2001-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal for the Scientific Study of Religion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-8294 • E-ISSN: 1468-5906
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/0021-8294.00073
OpenAlexW2144016805
LanguageEN
Citations received148
References cited29

This study examined whether the relationships between religious coping and well-being are moderated by the salience of religion to the individual's identity and social roles. As part of a national survey of Presbyterians, 1,260 clergy, 823 elders, and 735 members completed measures of demographic variables, global religiousness, life stressors, positive and negative religious coping, and well-being (positive affect, depressive affect, religious satisfaction). Our predictions were largely confirmed. First, clergy reported higher levels of positive religious coping than elders, who, in turn, indicated more positive religious coping than members. Second, positive and negative religious coping were associated with higher and lower levels of well-being respectively. Finally, positive and negative religious coping were more strongly related to well-being for clergy than for members. Furthermore, the drawbacks of negative religious coping for the clergy were not offset completely by the benefits of positive religious coping. Longitudinal studies of the longer term implications of positive and negative religious coping are clearly warranted. The results also suggest the need for supportive and educational services to help clergy draw on their religious coping resources and come to terms with their spiritual struggles

Coping (psychology) · Religiosity · Religious identity · Stressor · Clinical Psychology · Psychology · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Society, and Development · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Social Psychology