Abstract
This study demonstrates the reliability and validity of the Clergy Occupational Distress Index (CODI). The five-item index allows researchers to measure the frequency that clergy, who traditionally have not been the subject of occupational health studies, experience occupational distress. We assess the reliability and validity of the index using two samples of clergy: a nationally representative sample of clergy and a sample of clergy from nine Protestant denominations. Exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s scores are generated. Construct validity is measured by examining the association between CODI scores and depressive symptoms while controlling for demographic, ministerial, and health variables. In both samples, the five items of the CODI load onto a single factor and the Cronbach’s alpha scores are robust. The regression model indicates that a high score on the CODI (i.e., more frequent occupational distress) is positively associated with having depressive symptoms within the last 4 weeks. The CODI can be used to identify clergy who frequently experience occupational distress and to understand how occupational distress affects clergy’s health, ministerial career, and the functioning of their congregation.
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Notes
For more information about study methodology see Carroll (2006: 239–241).
In both studies, less than 1% of the respondents refused to answer the items that compose the CODI, suggesting that clergy understood these questions and did not have problems answering them.
OLS regression models allow one to assess the statistical association between a continuous dependent variable and theoretically important independent variables while also controlling for other variables that may potentially explain the association (See Chaps. 9 and 11 in Agresti and Finlay 1997).
Because a substantial percentage of the church-attending population is in large congregations, large congregations are more likely to be nominated by GSS respondents. To correct for this bias, each congregation is weighted inversely proportional to its size. This corrects for the overrepresentation of clergy from large congregations and makes it possible to treat each clergy as one unit in the population.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Church Benefits Association for participating in the study. The authors would also like to thank the following denominations and organizations for their support: Adventist Risk Management, Christian Church Health Care Benefit Trust, Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust, Church of the Nazarene, The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church, Joint Retirement Board for Conservative Judaism, Mennonite Church USA, The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board, Moravian Church Northern Province, and the Pension Boards—United Church of Christ. The authors would like to thank the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church for data analysis support. The Pulpit & Pew National Survey of Pastoral Leaders, 2001 data were downloaded from the Association of Religion Data Archives, http://www.TheARDA.com, and were collected by Jackson W. Carroll, Williams Professor Emeritus of Religion and Society and Director (Retired) of Pulpit & Pew: Research on Pastoral Leadership, Duke University Divinity School; Becky R. McMillan, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics, Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma City University, Research Associate; Matthew J. Price, Director of Analytical Research, Episcopal Church Pension Group, New York, Research Associate; and John B. James, Pulpit & Pew: The Duke Center for Excellence in Ministry, Duke University Divinity School, Project Coordinator. We would also like to thank Kari H. Lauderback for suggestions and comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. The authors alone are responsible for the content of this article.
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Frenk, S.M., Mustillo, S.A., Hooten, E.G. et al. The Clergy Occupational Distress Index (CODI): Background and Findings from Two Samples of Clergy. J Relig Health 52, 397–407 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9486-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9486-4