title: How Religious Beliefs and Practices Influence the Psychological Health of Catholic Priests.
abstract: Roman Catholic diocesan priests are a subgroup of men with unique religious and spiritual roles, beliefs, and practices. This qualitative study of 15 priests from the mid-Atlantic area of the United States focused on how priests' relationship with God and promises of celibacy and obedience influenced their psychological health. Using a consensual qualitative research (CQR) design, the analysis revealed that participants described their relationship with God as central to their health and contributing to positive outcomes (e.g., sense of connection and support). The influence of their promises of celibacy and obedience were linked to both positive outcomes (e.g., decreased stress, improved relationships) and negative outcomes (e.g., internal conflict, depression/loneliness). This study highlighted the central role that priests' relationship with God has on positive psychological health. Future research is necessary to understand how to maximize the positive effects and minimize the negative effects of priests' promises of celibacy and obedience, which would benefit programs aimed at supporting priests' psychological health.
authors.affiliation: Counseling Psychology Programs, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA aisacco@chatham.edu.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isacco
authors.affiliation: Counseling Psychology Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sahker
authors.affiliation: Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krinock
authors.affiliation: Counseling Psychology Programs, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Wonjin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: Counseling Psychology Programs, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Deanna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D002410:Catholicism / Q000523:psychology*; D002977:Clergy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012746:Sexual Abstinence / Q000523:psychology*; D029181:Spirituality; D014481:United States
keywords: celibacy; clergy; obedience; priests; relationship with God; religion/spirituality