Skip to main content
Hit enter to search or ESC to close
Close Search
Pastoral Wellness Research
search
Menu
  • No menu assigned
  • search
  • Menu

Clergy and Spouse Well-Being, Emotional Exhaustion and Help-seeking

Step 1 of 2

50%
Role: Please designate your role by identifying yourself as pastor or spouse who is married to a pastor.(Required)

Informed Consent (What you need to know before you agree to participate)

Please read the following informed consent form and check the box to proceed.



INTRODUCTION

The Charis Institute at Regent University is conducting a study of clergy and spouse well-being and help-seeking. The purpose of this research is to understand the well-being, occupational stress, and help-seeking attitudes of pastors and spouses in the United States. The purposes of this form are to give you information that may affect your decision whether to say YES or NO to participation in this research, and to record the consent of those who say YES.

DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH STUDY

Several studies have been conducted looking into the subject of clergy and spouses well-being and help-seeking. The purpose of this research is to understand the well-being, occupational stress, and help-seeking attitudes of pastors and spouses of pastors in the United States.

If you decide to participate, then you will join a study involving research of pastors and spouses of pastors in part- or full-time ministry. This includes lead pastors and associate/executive pastors. It is expected that this survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Approximately 200-400 participants will complete this survey.

EXCLUSIONARY CRITERIA

To participate you should be currently serving in a full- or part-time pastoral role and or are married to a pastor serving in a full or part time role. Employees in other church or para-church ministry who do not carry the identifying occupation of PASTOR or are not married to a pastor should NOT participate.

RISKS AND BENEFITS

RISKS: If you decide to participate in this study, then you may face a risk of feeling uncomfortable, sad, or anxious when reading some of the survey questions. The researcher tried to reduce these risks by using scales that have been widely used in previous research and have not been shown to cause harm. And, as with any research, there is some possibility that you may be subject to risks that have not yet been identified.

BENEFITS: The benefits of this research include assisting in understanding the needs and views of pastors and spouses and helping develop targeted strategies to improve pastors’ and spouse’s wellness.

COSTS AND PAYMENTS

The researchers are unable to give you any payment for participating in this study.

NEW INFORMATION

If the researchers find new information during this study that would reasonably change your decision about participating, then they will give it to you.

FUTURE RESEARCH

The researchers may use your responses to this survey for future research without further informed consent.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All information obtained about you in this study is strictly confidential unless disclosure is required by law. The results of this study may be used in reports, presentations and publications, but the researcher will not identify you. No identifying information will be required of you and your responses will not be able to be linked to you.

WITHDRAWAL PRIVILEGE

You are asked to complete the survey in its entirety to be included in the study, but you may stop at any time if you no longer wish to participate.

COMPENSATION FOR ILLNESS AND INJURY

If you say YES, then your consent in this document does not waive any of your legal rights. However, in the event of any harm arising from this study, neither Regent University nor the researchers are able to give you any money, insurance coverage, free medical care, or any other compensation for such injury. In the event that you suffer injury as a result of participation in this research project, you may contact the researchers at Charis institute at charis@regent.edu or the department research ethics manager for this project, Dr Garzon, fgarzon@regent.edu.

By checking "I Agree" and proceeding with the survey, you are saying several things. You are saying that you have read this form or have had it read to you, that you are satisfied that you understand this form, the research study, and its risks and benefits. You may contact the researchers (charis@regent.edu) at any time if you have any questions or concerns.(Required)

About You

Demographic Questions
What is your current job title?(Required)

What is your current job title?(Required)

Please enter a number from 20 to 100.
What is your gender?(Required)
What is your marital status?(Required)
How many children currently live in your home?(Required)
What is your highest level of completed education?(Required)
What is your employment status as a pastor?(Required)
What is your current annual income from your role as a pastor? (Include housing allowance or value of housing provided if applicable)(Required)
What is your ethnicity?(Required)

In what region of the United States do you live?(Required)

How many pastoral staff members work at your church? (Do not include secretaries or non-pastoral staff)(Required)
Please enter a number from 0 to 100.
Select the things you do to keep yourself healthy(Required)
Select the things your spouse does to care for you(Required)

Social Support

Please indicate the number of friends you have (not including your spouse) that you can talk to about things that are on your mind or bothering you(Required)
How often do you talk to or spend time with these friends(Required)
Please select your level of agreement with this statement: "My spouse is emotionally supportive of me in the challenges I face in ministry."(Required)
How often do you get the social and emotional support you need?(Required)
How socially isolated do you feel?(Required)
How satisfied are you in your marriage?(Required)

Intent to Leave Ministry

Please choose the answer that seems to best represent your current feelings about your future in ministry. Other than for retirement or health reasons, I:(Required)

Occupational Distress

Hidden
How often have the people in your congregation made too many demands of you?(Required)
How often have the people in your congregation been critical of you and the things you have done?(Required)
How often have you experienced stress as a result of dealing with congregational members who are critical of you?(Required)
How often have you felt lonely or isolated in your ministry work?(Required)
How often have you felt stress because of the challenges you have in this congregation?(Required)

Health Questionnaire

(Patient Health Questionnaire - 9)

Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?

Hidden
Little interest or pleasure in doing things(Required)
Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless(Required)
Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much(Required)
Feeling tired or having little energy(Required)
Poor appetite or overeating(Required)
Feeling bad about yourself-or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down(Required)
Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television(Required)
Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed, or, the opposite--being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual(Required)
Had thoughts that you would be better off dead or hurting yourself in some way(Required)

Emotional Exhaustion in Ministry

Answer each of the following questions based on how you have been feeling recently.

Hidden
I feel drained by fulfilling my ministry roles(Required)
Fatigue and irritation are part of my daily experience(Required)
I am invaded by sadness I can't explain(Required)
I am feeling negative or cynical about the people with whom I work(Required)
I always have enthusiasm for my ministry work(Required)
My humor has a cynical and biting tone(Required)
I find myself spending less and less time with those among whom I minister(Required)
I have been discouraged by the lack of personal support for me here(Required)
I find myself frustrated in my attempts to accomplish tasks important to me(Required)
I am less patient with those among whom I minister than I used to be(Required)
I am becoming less flexible in my dealings with those among whom I minister(Required)

Satisfaction in Ministry

Answer each of the following questions based on how you have been feeling recently.

Hidden
I have accomplished many worthwhile things in my current ministry(Required)
I gain a lot of personal satisfaction from working with people in my current ministry(Required)
I deal very effectively with the problems of people in my current ministry(Required)
I can easily understand how those among whom I minister feel about things(Required)
I feel that my pastoral ministry has a positive influence on people's lives(Required)
I feel very positive about my current ministry(Required)
I feel that my ministry has a positive influence on people's faith(Required)
I feel that my ministry is really appreciated by people(Required)
I am really glad that I entered the ministry(Required)
The ministry here gives real purpose and meaning to my life(Required)
I gain a lot of personal satisfaction from fulfilling my ministry roles(Required)

Spiritual Wellbeing Experiences - Ministry

During the past 6 months, how often have you felt the presence and power of God...

Hidden
In planning and leading worship(Required)
When conducting pastoral visitations?(Required)
When participating in church-related events (e.g., Bible study, fellowship time, etc.)(Required)
When sharing in crisis intervention and counseling(Required)
When participating in communion(Required)
In the midst of serious conflict(Required)

Spiritual Wellbeing Experiences - Daily Life

During the past 6 months, how often have you...

Hidden
Experienced the presence and power of God in the ordinary(Required)
Observed the presence and power of God in your closest relationships(Required)
Consciously practiced discerning the presence and power of God(Required)
Felt God's grace and God's love for you as you are, apart from any accomplishments or good works?(Required)
Felt that God was guiding you and was interested in the events in your life(Required)
Felt that you have a vital relationship with God(Required)

Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Counseling

Select the answer that best describes how you feel:

Hidden
If I believed I was having a mental breakdown, my first inclination would be to get professional counseling(Required)
The idea of talking about problems with a professional counselor strikes me as a poor way to get rid of emotional conflicts(Required)
If I were experiencing a serious emotional crisis at this point in my life, I would be confident that I could find relief in professional counseling(Required)
There is something admirable in the attitude of a person who is willing to cope with his or her conflicts WITHOUT resorting to professional counseling(Required)
I would want to get professional counseling if I were worried or upset for a long period of time(Required)
I might want to have professional counseling in the future(Required)
A person with an emotional problem is not likely to solve it alone; he or she is likely to solve it with professional counseling(Required)
Considering the time and expense involved in professional counseling, it would have doubtful value for a person like me(Required)
A person should work out his or her own problems; getting professional counseling would be a last resort(Required)
Peronsal and emotional troubles, like many things, tend to work out by themselves(Required)
I would only seek professional counseling with someone who integrated a Christian worldview into their practice(Required)

Resilience

Please indicate the extent to which you agree with each of the following statements.

Hidden
I tend to bounce back quickly after hard times(Required)
I have a hard time making it through stressful events(Required)
It does not take me long to recover from a stressful event(Required)
It is hard for me to snap back when something bad happens(Required)
I usually come through difficult times with little trouble(Required)
I tend to take a long time to get over set-backs in my life(Required)

Psychological Wellbeing

Choose the response that indicates how much you agree or disagree

Hidden
I like most parts of my personality(Required)
When I look at the story of my life, I am pleased with how things have turned out so far(Required)
Some people wander aimlessly through life, but I am not one of them(Required)
The demands of everyday life often get me down(Required)
In many ways I feel disappointed about my achievements in life(Required)
Maintaining close relationships has been difficult and frustrating for me(Required)
I live life one day at a time and don't really think about the future(Required)
In general, I feel I am in charge of the situation in which I live(Required)
I am good at managing the responsibilities of daily life(Required)
I sometimes feel as if I've done all there is to do in life(Required)
For me, life has been a continuous process of learning, changing, and growth(Required)
I think it is important to have new experiences that challenge how I think about myself and the world(Required)
People would describe me as a giving person, willing to share my time with others(Required)
I gave up trying to make big improvements or changes in my life a long time ago(Required)
I tend to be influenced by people with strong opinions(Required)
I have not experienced many warm and trusting relationships with others(Required)
I have confidence in my own opinions, even if they are different from the way most other people think(Required)
I judge myself by what I think is important, not by the values of what others think is important(Required)
Hidden

Group

Hidden

© 2025 Pastoral Wellness Research.

Close Menu