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Who Pastors the Priest? An Investigation of the Psychological Well-being and Ministerial Support of Anglican Priests in Kenya
Subject area: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities · Area of research: Psychology
Abstract
This study investigates the psychological well-being and ministerial support systems available to Anglican priests in Kenya, examining the critical question of pastoral care for religious leaders. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzed the experiences of 317 Anglican priests across 38 dioceses through surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The research reveals significant challenges in clergy psychological health, with 42% of participants reporting high stress levels and 48% showing high emotional exhaustion scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Clergy Survey. Urban clergy experience significantly higher stress levels compared to their rural counterparts (t(315)=4.23, p<.001). A notable gap in support systems emerged, with only 23% of priests accessing professional counseling services despite 78% reporting high need for psychological support. Key findings demonstrate strong correlations between access to support systems and ministry effectiveness (r=.42, p<.001), while 45% of priests report their pastoral care quality is substantially affected by their psychological state. Institutional support varies significantly across dioceses, with only 8 out of 38 dioceses providing structured professional counseling services. The research provides important implications for ecclesiastical policy, clergy formation, and support system development. Recommendations include establishing comprehensive clergy wellness programs, implementing mandatory rest periods, and developing professional support networks. The findings contribute to the growing body of literature on clergy well-being while highlighting the unique challenges within the Kenyan Anglican context, providing a foundation for evidence-based interventions at institutional, individual, and community levels.
Keywords
Pastors/Priest, Psychological Well-being, Ministerial Support, Anglican
How to cite this paper
@article{1706922,
author = {Christine Julie Nabwire},
title = {Who Pastors the Priest? An Investigation of the Psychological Well-being and Ministerial Support of Anglican Priests in Kenya},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2025},
volume = {8},
number = {7},
pages = {273-280},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1706922.pdf},
abstract = {This study investigates the psychological well-being and ministerial support systems available to Anglican priests in Kenya, examining the critical question of pastoral care for religious leaders. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzed the experiences of 317 Anglican priests across 38 dioceses through surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The research reveals significant challenges in clergy psychological health, with 42% of participants reporting high stress levels and 48% showing high emotional exhaustion scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Clergy Survey. Urban clergy experience significantly higher stress levels compared to their rural counterparts (t(315)=4.23, p<.001). A notable gap in support systems emerged, with only 23% of priests accessing professional counseling services despite 78% reporting high need for psychological support. Key findings demonstrate strong correlations between access to support systems and ministry effectiveness (r=.42, p<.001), while 45% of priests report their pastoral care quality is substantially affected by their psychological state. Institutional support varies significantly across dioceses, with only 8 out of 38 dioceses providing structured professional counseling services. The research provides important implications for ecclesiastical policy, clergy formation, and support system development. Recommendations include establishing comprehensive clergy wellness programs, implementing mandatory rest periods, and developing professional support networks. The findings contribute to the growing body of literature on clergy well-being while highlighting the unique challenges within the Kenyan Anglican context, providing a foundation for evidence-based interventions at institutional, individual, and community levels.},
keywords = {Pastors/Priest, Psychological Well-being, Ministerial Support, Anglican},
month = {January},
}