Seniors' Mental Health and Pastoral Practices in African American Churches: An Exploratory Study in a Southern City

• Published in: Review of religious research Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 168 - 177
• Main Authors: Blasi, Anthony J., Husaini, Baqar A., Drumwright, Darrell A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Religious Research Association 01-12-1998
• Subjects: Black Christian Churches; Black Community; Christianity; Churches; Cities; Clergy; Contemporary period; Elderly; Elderly people; General subjects; History and sciences of religions; Mental Health; Older adults; Pastoral care; Pastoral counseling; Pastors; Psychological counseling; Psychology; Religiosity; Sociological studies; Southern States; USA; Wellbeing; United States of America; African Church; Religious sociology; Pastor; Old person; Mental health; Inquiry; Aid; Religiosity
• ISSN: 0034-673X; 2211-4866
• DOI: 10.2307/3512300

Some evidence suggests that religiosity contributes to the subjective health of senior citizens, especially in the African American population. When facing potentially stressful problems, many African American seniors turn to the church and clergy for help. Consequently, we explore how their clergy respond to seniors' psychological problems, whether they seek advice from professionals, and what they typically do in dealing with a distressed senior. Data from a representative sample of pastors of African American congregations indicate that one-half of the clergy referred distressed seniors to mental health professionals, while among the remaining pastors about 25% provided counseling and prayers and another 25% felt that problems were not serious enough to require either counseling or professional referral. A discussion of these findings is provided.