Experience of Stress and Coping Strategies among Pastors’ Wives in China

Abstract

A qualitative study was conducted to examine the experience of stress and coping strategies among 15 pastors’ wives from a city in mainland China. Results indicated that nearly all interviewees experienced financial stress and loneliness, a phenomenon consistent with that seen in literature in the West. However, stress arising from role expectations among the spouses’ congregations was low. Most interviewees coped with stress through family and social support, as well as through praying.

Keywords

Clergy family stress clergy family coping Three-Self Patriotic Movement churches China qualitative methods

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