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Divine Struggles Among Those Doing God's Work: A Longitudinal Assessment Predicting Depression and Burnout and the Role of Social Support in United Methodist Clergy

Publication ,  Journal Article
Upenieks, L; Eagle, DE
Published in: Sociology of Religion: A Quarterly Review
January 1, 2024

In this study, we examine the role of spiritual struggles among clergy, in the form of "divine struggle"or feelings of alienation from God and their associations with well-being (depressive symptoms and burnout) among clergy. Drawing from a life-stress perspective, we also test whether received and anticipated congregational support moderates these associations. Using two waves of data (2016- 2019) of the Clergy Panel Health Survey of United Methodist clergy in North Carolina (n = 1,261), results suggest that it was clergy who increased in divine struggles over time who had the highest depressive symptom and burnout scores. However, clergy who received significant emotional support from members of their congregation were protected from elevated depressive symptoms and greater burnout. Anticipated congregational support only buffered the relationship between increasing divine struggles and one component of burnout (positive achievement). We offer some broader implications for supporting clergy well-being in the face of divine struggles.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Sociology of Religion: A Quarterly Review

DOI

ISSN

1069-4404

Publication Date

January 1, 2024

Volume

85

Issue

1

Start / End Page

83 / 111

Related Subject Headings

  • Religions & Theology
  • 5004 Religious studies
  • 4410 Sociology
  • 2204 Religion and Religious Studies
  • 1608 Sociology
 

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Upenieks, L., & Eagle, D. E. (2024). Divine Struggles Among Those Doing God's Work: A Longitudinal Assessment Predicting Depression and Burnout and the Role of Social Support in United Methodist Clergy. Sociology of Religion: A Quarterly Review, 85(1), 83–111. https://doi.org/10.1093/socrel/srad014
Upenieks, L., and D. E. Eagle. “Divine Struggles Among Those Doing God's Work: A Longitudinal Assessment Predicting Depression and Burnout and the Role of Social Support in United Methodist Clergy.” Sociology of Religion: A Quarterly Review 85, no. 1 (January 1, 2024): 83–111. https://doi.org/10.1093/socrel/srad014.
Upenieks, L., and D. E. Eagle. “Divine Struggles Among Those Doing God's Work: A Longitudinal Assessment Predicting Depression and Burnout and the Role of Social Support in United Methodist Clergy.” Sociology of Religion: A Quarterly Review, vol. 85, no. 1, Jan. 2024, pp. 83–111. Scopus, doi:10.1093/socrel/srad014.
Journal cover image

Published In

Sociology of Religion: A Quarterly Review

DOI

ISSN

1069-4404

Publication Date

January 1, 2024

Volume

85

Issue

1

Start / End Page

83 / 111

Related Subject Headings

  • Religions & Theology
  • 5004 Religious studies
  • 4410 Sociology
  • 2204 Religion and Religious Studies
  • 1608 Sociology