Psychosocial and Spiritual Predictors of Mental Health Among Protestant Christian Latino Clergy

Research relating to the experiences of Protestant Christian Latino clergy in the United States is scarce. This study sought to explore the role of religion and spirituality on depression, burnout, and suicidality in Protestant Christian Latino clergy using multiple regression analysis. The study consisted of 212 Protestant Christian Latino clergy participants who completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire online that included measures for religious commitment and spiritual well-being, burnout, depression, and suicidality. Participants also completed a measure of ethnic/cultural identity and self-reported gender that were used as moderators in this study. The study revealed that stronger spiritual well-being-Daily (CSWS-Daily) and lower religious commitment (RCI) were related to lower levels of burnout while stronger levels of religious commitment and spiritual well-being-Ministry (CSWS-Ministry) were related to higher levels of depression. Additionally, the study found that the relationship between religious commitment, CSWS-Ministry, burnout, and depression was moderated at different levels of ethnic/cultural factors. Finally, the results indicate that gender moderated the relationship between religious commitment, spiritual well-being, and burnout but not depression. The results for suicidality were not statistically significant. The research results indicate that for Protestant Christian Latino clergy spiritual well-being and religious commitment are not the only predictors to consider when assessing for burnout and depression. Ethnic/cultural factors and gender are also important factors to consider when it comes to the well-being of Protestant Christian Latino/Hispanic clergy.