Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Biology

Abstract

Clergy believe they have been called to be healthy and role models of good health. However, epidemiological evidence supports that clergy are currently exhibiting higher rates of chronic diseases and associated factors such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension compared to the general population. Prior studies of clergys health are limited because the few available studies are denomination specific, limiting generalizability to the other denominations who have differing theology and beliefs. The Wesleyan denomination has not been formally studied. The gap in literature, therefore, creates a need for baseline information specific to the Wesleyan clergy. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of chronic diseases, associated factors, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among a sample (n = 301) of Wesleyan clergy using the Wilson-Cleary Model of Health-Related Quality of Life as theoretical framework. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the study sample. Prevalence rates were calculated for the chronic diseases examined, while Chi-square analysis assessed the associations between disease prevalence and associated factors. Mann-Whitney U test assessed urban-rural difference in Wesleyan clergy HRQOL, and differences between the HRQOLs categories by number of diseases. Majority (80%) of the clergy reported being overweight or obese but did not report higher rates of chronic disease normally associated when compared to the general population. There were significant associations between factors such as overweight/obesity, hypertension, or high cholesterol and the prevalence of chronic diseases (diabetes, pre-diabetes, CHD, heart attack, stroke, depression, arthritis, skin cancer, other cancer. Clergy living in rural settings exhibited lower scores in all domains of HRQOL when compared to those living in urban settings, and those having one or more chronic diseases had lower HRQOL measures. These study findings suggest an urgent need to create targeted health interventions for Wesleyan clergy in order to improve their overall health status and boost retention of clergy in the Wesleyan Church.

Download

Share

COinS