Date
4-7-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Richard Green
Keywords
pastoral stress, burnout, coping strategies, religious coping, secular coping, clergy well-being, work-life balance
Disciplines
Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Moore, Arbedella Denise, "A Phenomenological Study of the Utilization of Coping Strategies Among Pastors: Religious Strategies vs. Secular/Traditional Strategies" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8042.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8042
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how Christian pastors serving congregations throughout the United States utilize religious and secular coping strategies to address occupational stress and achieve work-life balance. The theory guiding this study was Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) transactional model of stress and coping, as it provided a framework for understanding how pastors cognitively and emotionally respond to ministry-related challenges, and how their coping choices, whether spiritual or secular, reflect an ongoing process of adaptation, meaning-making, and resilience within complex realities of pastoral life. The study was guided by three research questions that explored how pastors perceive, interpret, and apply both religious and secular coping strategies to manage occupational challenges and sustain well-being. The study employed a qualitative phenomenological research design to capture the depth and richness of pastors’ lived experiences. The sample consisted of six Christian pastors from diverse denominational backgrounds, selected through purposive, criterion-based sampling to ensure variation in age, gender, years in ministry, and church size. The setting for the study included pastors in congregational contexts across the United States, with interviews conducted virtually. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, a focus group discussion, and participant coping journals. Data analysis followed a thematic approach consistent with phenomenological methods, using open coding and horizontalization. Verification strategies such as reflexive journaling, member checks, and an audit trail ensured credibility, dependability, and trustworthiness.
