PTSD symptoms in religious leaders: Prevalence, stressors, and associations with narcissism

Religious leaders face numerous mental health challenges, and prior research suggests that some experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to work-related experiences. This study employed a diverse sample of 274 religious leaders to (a) qualitatively describe the types of work-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archive for the psychology of religion
Authors: Ruffing, Elizabeth G. (Author) ; Bell, Chance A. (Author) ; Sandage, Steven J. 1967- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: SAGE Publishing 2021
In: Archive for the psychology of religion
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Posttraumatic stress disorder / Religious leader / Narcissism
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AE Psychology of religion
AG Religious life; material religion
ZB Sociology
Further subjects:B Spirituality
B Post-traumatic stress disorder
B Religion
B Qualitative
B Stress
B Clergy
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Religious leaders face numerous mental health challenges, and prior research suggests that some experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to work-related experiences. This study employed a diverse sample of 274 religious leaders to (a) qualitatively describe the types of work-related experiences they identify as particularly stressful or overwhelming, (b) assess the prevalence of PTSD symptoms associated with these experiences, and (c) test hypothesized associations between PTSD symptoms and narcissism. The study found that the stressful experiences reported typically involved relational conflict, having limited resources, or caring for people suffering. Over half of the sample endorsed symptoms that were above the cutoff for a clinical concern for PTSD, and PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with symptoms of both vulnerable narcissism and grandiose narcissism. Practical implications for the ongoing formation and support of religious leaders are discussed.
ISSN:1573-6121
Contains:Enthalten in: Archive for the psychology of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0084672420926261