Dispositional Resiliency and Adjustment in Protestant Pastors: A Pilot Study

Several studies of pastoral adjustment have examined sources of stress and support. This pilot study, drawing upon a positive psychological perspective of resilience, examined the role of dispositional hope and gratitude in coping with the demands of ministry. A non-random sample of 24 pastors completed online surveys containing measures of congregational demand and support, hope and gratitude, and pastoral well-being and adjustment. As expected, demand was negatively associated with adjustment, while gratitude was positively associated. Regression analyses suggested that gratitude is the more salient variable.