Work-Related Stress and Psychosocial Well-Being in Pastoral Ministry

Work-related stress is a widespread problem in modern life. This book examines its nature, development, outcomes, and interventions to promote psychosocial well-being in stressful contexts. In fact, the book first presents the theoretical models that have been developed to conceptualize work-related stress and the major pathologies associated with it, and deepens this conceptualization by exploring the neurobiological mechanisms involved in stressor assessment and regulation of the stress response. The book then examines aspects of psychosocial well-being and the conditions under which these can be maintained in the presence of high stressors. Finally, the book examines various aspects of work-related stress in pastoral ministry, identifies its critical issues, and proposes ad hoc preventive interventions based on data from studies conducted in Rwanda. This book may be of interest to priests in general, who need to know the situation they face; to priests working in formation, who need to carefully prepare priest candidates for future pastoral challenges; to professionals who want to conduct psychotherapy among pastoral workers; and to researchers who want to do further research.