Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Seminary Students and Physical Health: Beliefs, Behaviors, and Barriers.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Johnston, EF; Eagle, DE; Corneli, A; Perry, B; Proeschold-Bell, RJ
Published in: J Relig Health
April 2022

As an occupational group, clergy exhibit numerous physical health problems. Given the physical health problems faced by clergy, understanding where physical health falls within the priorities of seminary students, the ways students conceptualize physical health, and how seminary students do or do not attend to their physical health in the years immediately prior to becoming clergy, can inform intervention development for both seminary students and clergy. Moreover, understanding and shaping the health practices of aspiring clergy may be particularly impactful, with cascading effects, as clergy serve as important role models for their congregants. Drawing on 36 in-depth, qualitative interviews with first-year seminary students, this study examines the complex dynamics between religious frameworks related to physical health, explicit intentions to maintain healthy practices, and reported physical health behaviors. Our findings suggest that even students who deploy religious frameworks in relation to their physical health-and who, as a result, possess positive intentions to implement and maintain healthy behaviors-often report being unable to live up to their aspirations, especially in the face of barriers to health practices posed by the seminary program itself. After reviewing these findings, we offer suggestions for physical health focused interventions, including action and coping planning, which could be implemented at seminaries to reduce the intention-behavior gap and improve clergy health.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Relig Health

DOI

EISSN

1573-6571

Publication Date

April 2022

Volume

61

Issue

2

Start / End Page

1207 / 1225

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Students
  • Social Psychology
  • Schools
  • Humans
  • Clergy
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 4206 Public health
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Johnston, E. F., Eagle, D. E., Corneli, A., Perry, B., & Proeschold-Bell, R. J. (2022). Seminary Students and Physical Health: Beliefs, Behaviors, and Barriers. J Relig Health, 61(2), 1207–1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01480-7
Johnston, Erin F., David E. Eagle, Amy Corneli, Brian Perry, and Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell. “Seminary Students and Physical Health: Beliefs, Behaviors, and Barriers.J Relig Health 61, no. 2 (April 2022): 1207–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01480-7.
Johnston EF, Eagle DE, Corneli A, Perry B, Proeschold-Bell RJ. Seminary Students and Physical Health: Beliefs, Behaviors, and Barriers. J Relig Health. 2022 Apr;61(2):1207–25.
Johnston, Erin F., et al. “Seminary Students and Physical Health: Beliefs, Behaviors, and Barriers.J Relig Health, vol. 61, no. 2, Apr. 2022, pp. 1207–25. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10943-021-01480-7.
Johnston EF, Eagle DE, Corneli A, Perry B, Proeschold-Bell RJ. Seminary Students and Physical Health: Beliefs, Behaviors, and Barriers. J Relig Health. 2022 Apr;61(2):1207–1225.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Relig Health

DOI

EISSN

1573-6571

Publication Date

April 2022

Volume

61

Issue

2

Start / End Page

1207 / 1225

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Students
  • Social Psychology
  • Schools
  • Humans
  • Clergy
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 4206 Public health
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services