Date

4-26-2024

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Frances Sanford

Keywords

gender, anxiety, faith, prayer, peace, neuroticism

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

Prayer is a primary indicator that Christians use to infuse meaning into their lives and navigate life's difficulties. Acquiring the capacity to cope with anxious feelings through spiritual disciplines, practices, and rituals can assist in anxiety relief. The literature indicates that the church has always served as a refuge when life-altering events occur. According to I Corinthians 12:13, the church is one body of believers, unified for a common purpose. Anxiety is defined as a state of distress caused by a perceived social threat. The purpose of this study in Pastoral Care and Counseling was to ascertain why studies have found Black males experience less anxiety than their black female counterparts and what effects prayer has on this phenomenon. The sample and size were taken from the population of Black males near the AME Zion Church, located in Concord, North Carolina. The data was gathered by conducting interviews, observations, and a study group of eight black males. These data sources answered the research questions: (1) What verbalizations best describe Black males' prayer-based strength? What prayer practices produce strength in black males? This qualitative study is a hermeneutic phenomenological approach developed by Martin Heidegger. The research found that prayer is critical in reducing anxiety in Black males. The primary themes that were obtained from the findings included prayer motivations, impact of prayer, attitudes, and knowledge. Participants mentioned COVID-19 and personal problems as some of the motivations for their prayerful life. Their responses underscored the significance of prayer in the reduction of anxiety. One of the implications of this study is that mental health practitioners can use this knowledge to advise religious clients on ways to reduce anxiety through prayer and fellowship.

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