The effect of perceived leader support on emotions in worship

Emotions have been identified as one key mechanism that may explain the association between church attendance and health. An in-depth examination of one dimension of church attendance, worship, may clarify these mechanisms. Corporate worship is often experienced as emotional, and leaders play a supportive role in influencing the emotions of parishioners. Relations between emotions and leadership support in a transformational worship experiences were explored in the current study. A sample of 74 participants was selected from African American, Caucasian, Korean, and Latino Protestant churches. Perceptions that leaders have an impact on transformational worship experiences were distinct from perceived leader support. Furthermore, a leader's impact did not need to evoke positive emotions in their congregation to lead to transformation in worship.