Stress, Obesity, Depression, and Codependency as Predictors of Unmitigated Communion in African American Pastors

Many pastors spend significant time tending to their congregants’ needs while disregarding their own needs. They may not know how to ask for or receive help and may look to others for self-worth and value. Inappropriate self-sacrificing behaviors could result in pastors' compromised emotional and physical health. The purpose of this study was to determine whether stress, obesity, depression, and codependency, individually or in a linear combination, were adequate predictors of unmitigated (UC) among African American senior pastors who pastor congregationally led churches without the benefit of paid support staff. The social cognitive learning theory was the theoretical framework in this quantitative nonexperimental study. Approximately 129 senior pastors across the United States completed surveys. Simple regression results indicated that stress and obesity were not statistically significant predictors of UC. However, depression and codependency were statistically significant predictors of UC. The multiple regression model was not statistically significant but did indicate that perceived stress was a statistically significant predictor of unmitigated communion,  = 0.17, t =2.02, F = 5.860, p < .005, as well as codependency,  = 0.35, F = 5.860, t = 3.67, p < .001. The study's results may yield positive social change by providing much-needed information to pastors and other professional helpers. With more information on how the study variables affect their overall well-being, professional helpers may be able to take steps to reduce negative impacts, which could be beneficial to their emotional and physical health.