"The Experience of Help Seeking for African American Pastors in Persona" by Jason Leon Hanna

Date of Conferral

1-27-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Tracy Masiello

Abstract

The U.S. population faces enormous challenges coping with disease, financial stress, failure, and general mental health concerns. Rather than seeking care from psychotherapists, increasing numbers of people in religious communities seek help from clergy, who must then balance the needs of their constituents while navigating their own personal crises and need for support. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the meaning of help-seeking for African American clergy during personal crises, guided by Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 African American senior pastors of congregations in the United States. Study participants defined help-seeking as multifaceted, involving reliance on God, mental health professionals, or recognizing personal limits, as well as choosing not to seek assistance. Findings revealed that some African American senior pastors sought help for personal crises through sources including family, trusted friends, spiritual counselors, and mental health professionals. In contrast, other clergy sought no help at all. Barriers to help-seeking included denial, fear of judgment, stigma, lack of resources, and unrealistic expectations of pastors. These findings illuminate the complex dynamics of help-seeking and the barriers African American pastors face during personal crises. The implications for positive social change include the potential for reducing the stigma associated with help-seeking and increasing the overall mental health of the African American clergy community, improving the overall health and safety of the community.

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