A Quantitative Research Study Analyzing Responses or Reactions of Personal and Professional Stress-Related Factors That Can Lead to Ministry Stress or Burnout in Chinese Pastors

Conservative doctrine (anonymous, 1994) suggested that priests, pastors, or ministers providing spiritual support to church communities are individuals that surpass all negative, human functionality, and strife. A representative sample of 80 Chinese pastors, ministering in Hong Kong, China, responded to an online self-report clergy assessment. The self-report Assessment of Clergy/Ministers web-based survey provided data for the most frequent personal and professional stress-related factors that lead to chronic stress and sometimes occupational burnout. Additional quantitative analysis also considered barriers to seeking professional therapeutic relief to the stressors experienced by these clergy leaders. The results of this study provide evidence that Chinese ministers report the experience of ministry stress and/or burnout at an alarming rate of 94.8%. On the basis of these findings, recommendations are made that offer appropriate assistance for clergy from their decision to enter graduate training to throughout their professional career.