The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Catholic Priests in Canada
Among the general population, frontline workers have been identified to be at heightened risk for negative mental health consequences related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Catholic priests, who minister to approximately 30% of Canadians, in their role as frontline workers, have been profoundly limited i...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-08-01
|
| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/8/718 |
| _version_ | 1797408186177683456 |
|---|---|
| author | Stephan Kappler Innocent Okozi Francois Diouf Katharina Hartinger |
| author_facet | Stephan Kappler Innocent Okozi Francois Diouf Katharina Hartinger |
| author_sort | Stephan Kappler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Among the general population, frontline workers have been identified to be at heightened risk for negative mental health consequences related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Catholic priests, who minister to approximately 30% of Canadians, in their role as frontline workers, have been profoundly limited in the provision of pastoral care due to public health restrictions. However, little is known about the impact pandemic distress has on this largely understudied population. Four hundred and eleven Catholic priests across Canada participated in an online survey during May and June 2021. Multiple regression analysis examined how depression, anxiety, traumatic impact of events, loneliness, and religious coping style affect the psychological well-being, satisfaction as a priest, and priestly identity of participants. Results demonstrated that pandemic distress significantly impacts the psychological well-being of priest participants. Depression and loneliness surfaced as significant considerations associated with lowered psychological well-being. While neither anxiety nor traumatic distress reached a significance threshold, the religious coping style of participants emerged as an important factor in the psychological well-being of priests. Results of the study contribute to the understanding of how the pandemic has impacted a less visible group of frontline workers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:54:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-977f7fb17b404f7aaff8bbd974251c41 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:54:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-977f7fb17b404f7aaff8bbd974251c412023-12-03T14:22:59ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-08-0113871810.3390/rel13080718The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Catholic Priests in CanadaStephan Kappler0Innocent Okozi1Francois Diouf2Katharina Hartinger3The Southdown Institute, Holland Landing, ON L9N 0L1, CanadaThe Southdown Institute, Holland Landing, ON L9N 0L1, CanadaThe Southdown Institute, Holland Landing, ON L9N 0L1, CanadaDepartment of Business Administration and Economics, Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, 85049 Ingolstadt, GermanyAmong the general population, frontline workers have been identified to be at heightened risk for negative mental health consequences related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Catholic priests, who minister to approximately 30% of Canadians, in their role as frontline workers, have been profoundly limited in the provision of pastoral care due to public health restrictions. However, little is known about the impact pandemic distress has on this largely understudied population. Four hundred and eleven Catholic priests across Canada participated in an online survey during May and June 2021. Multiple regression analysis examined how depression, anxiety, traumatic impact of events, loneliness, and religious coping style affect the psychological well-being, satisfaction as a priest, and priestly identity of participants. Results demonstrated that pandemic distress significantly impacts the psychological well-being of priest participants. Depression and loneliness surfaced as significant considerations associated with lowered psychological well-being. While neither anxiety nor traumatic distress reached a significance threshold, the religious coping style of participants emerged as an important factor in the psychological well-being of priests. Results of the study contribute to the understanding of how the pandemic has impacted a less visible group of frontline workers.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/8/718COVID-19priestspsychological well-beinglonelinessreligious coping |
| spellingShingle | Stephan Kappler Innocent Okozi Francois Diouf Katharina Hartinger The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Catholic Priests in Canada Religions COVID-19 priests psychological well-being loneliness religious coping |
| title | The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Catholic Priests in Canada |
| title_full | The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Catholic Priests in Canada |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Catholic Priests in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Catholic Priests in Canada |
| title_short | The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Catholic Priests in Canada |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on the psychological well being of catholic priests in canada |
| topic | COVID-19 priests psychological well-being loneliness religious coping |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/8/718 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stephankappler theimpactofthecovid19pandemiconthepsychologicalwellbeingofcatholicpriestsincanada AT innocentokozi theimpactofthecovid19pandemiconthepsychologicalwellbeingofcatholicpriestsincanada AT francoisdiouf theimpactofthecovid19pandemiconthepsychologicalwellbeingofcatholicpriestsincanada AT katharinahartinger theimpactofthecovid19pandemiconthepsychologicalwellbeingofcatholicpriestsincanada AT stephankappler impactofthecovid19pandemiconthepsychologicalwellbeingofcatholicpriestsincanada AT innocentokozi impactofthecovid19pandemiconthepsychologicalwellbeingofcatholicpriestsincanada AT francoisdiouf impactofthecovid19pandemiconthepsychologicalwellbeingofcatholicpriestsincanada AT katharinahartinger impactofthecovid19pandemiconthepsychologicalwellbeingofcatholicpriestsincanada |