The Power of Spousal Support in Ministry: A Longitudinal Study of Social Support Profiles, Marital Quality, and Ministry Satisfaction Among United Methodist Clergy

For many occupations, the toll of work-related stressors on job satisfaction may be mitigated by social and emotional support. However, social support may be different for clergy, considering their unique work environment. Using data from the Clergy Health Initiative Longitudinal Survey, this study examines the relationship between different combinations of social support and job satisfaction among clergy (i.e., ministry satisfaction). We identified five subgroups among clergy with distinct combinations of social support: All-Around Support, Spouse and Sometimes Others, Primarily Spouse, Friends and Relatives, and Socially Isolated. Using generalized estimating equations, we investigated the statistical relationships between these social support profiles and ministry satisfaction, with particular attention to married clergy and differences by gender. We found that the All-Around Support group has the strongest relationship with higher ministry satisfaction. This pattern holds for clergy in general and is particularly pronounced among clergy men, even after we account for marital quality. For clergy women, we found that marital quality, more so than social support profiles, is significantly and positively related to ministry satisfaction. Although spouses remain central to the work life of clergy overall, this study highlights significantly different relationships with ministry satisfaction across clergy's experiences of social support and between clergy men and women.

Duke Scholars

Author Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell Duke Global Health Institute