Abstracts and citations for the papers listed below are available by clicking on the title. Journal subscriptions may be required to access the full paper.  For more information, please contact our research director, Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell, Ph.D.

Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community - forthcoming
Tailoring health programming to clergy: findings from a study of United Methodist clergy in North Carolina 

Abstract: Research indicating high rates of chronic disease among some clergy groups highlights the need for health programming for clergy. Like any group united by similar beliefs and norms, clergy may find culturally tailored health programming more accessible and effective. There is an absence of research on what aspects clergy find important for clergy health programs. We conducted 11 focus groups with United Methodist Church pastors and district superintendents. Participants answered open-ended questions about clergy health program desires and ranked program priorities from a list of 13 possible programs. Pastors prioritized health club memberships, retreats, personal trainers, mental health counseling, and spiritual direction. District superintendents prioritized for themselves: physical exams, personal trainers, health coaching, retreats, and nutritionists. District superintendents prioritized for pastors: physical exams, peer support groups, health coaching, retreats, and health club memberships. Through qualitative analysis, seven health program themes emerged: holistic health including spiritual and mental well-being, schedule flexibility, accessibility in rural areas, cost to participants, working on health in connection with others, mental health stigma, and the desire for education on physical health. The design of future clergy health programming should consider these programming desires of clergy.

Citation: Proeschold-Bell, R.J., LeGrand, S., Wallace, A., James, J., Moore, H., Swift, R., & Toole, D. (Forthcoming). Tailoring health programming to clergy: Findings from a study of United Methodist clergy in North Carolina. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community.  

Sociology of Religion: A Quarterly Review - June 2011
Are rural clergy worse off?: an examination of occupational conditions and pastoral experiences in a sample of United Methodist clergy 

Pastoral Psychology - June 2011
Health programming for clergy: An overview of Protestant programs

Quality of Life Research – December 2010
Explaining rural/non-rural disparities in physical health-related quality of life:  A study of United Methodist clergy in North Carolina

Journal of Religion and Health – July 2010
Physical Health Functioning Among United Methodist Clergy

Obesity (Journal of the Obesity Society) – May 2010
High Rates of Obesity and Chronic Disease Among United Methodist Clergy

Journal of Religion and Health – April 2009
A Theoretical Model of the Holistic Health of United Methodist Pastors