1. from the table to the couch
An Exploration of Needs and Coping Among Seminarians
Todd Bowman, PhD
Scott Koeneman, PsyD
MidAmerica Nazarene University

2. Objectives
Explore the relevant dimensions of psychosocial functioning that impact preparation for a vocation in ministry
Discuss information/insights relevant to the attainment or maintenance of psychosocial adjustment to the demands of the seminary experience
Identify a variety of preventative interventions in the care and counsel of seminarians and successful transition to vocational ministry.

3. The Need
The psychosocial functioning of seminarians has largely been overlooked. Yet, clergy remain the first-line of care with regard to mental health problems (Weaver, Flannelly, Flannelly & Oppenheimer, 2003).
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (2005) reports 253 member schools with over 81,000 students enrolled, which is twice the number of psychology students training in the US (APA, 2005).
Additionally, the research in the training experiences of psychology students far outreaches the minimal research of seminarian psychosocial functioning.

4. Formation
In recent years seminaries have focused more on formative experiences of their students. This is likely a response to sociological shift in the landscape of American religion - movement away from doctrine and toward embodied experience.
However, it is possible that this shift is related to recent publications regarding clergy misconduct.

5. Seminary Experience The gap between expectation and reality
Spiritual dwelling vs. spiritual seeking
The “call” vs. unconscious drives

6. Relevant Dimensions of PsyChosocial Functioning
Reality Testing
Vocational perceptions
Personality composition and function
Identity Problems
Lifestyle

7. Present study
The present pilot study is comprised of approximately 50 seminarians enrolled in a Midwestern seminary affiliated with a the Wesleyan theological tradition. Participants completed the appropriate demographic form, social support survey, coping behaviors survey, and the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI).

8. Demographics 67% males (n = 36), 33% females (n = 18)
54% married (n = 29), 46% single (n = 25)
85% Caucasian (n = 46), 4% Asian-American (n = 2), 2% African-American (n = 1), 4% multiracial (n = 2), 5% no response (n = 5)
33% reported previous psychiatric treatment (n = 18)
57% reported currently serving in ministry positions (n = 31)

9. Support and coping Family (4.63) Spouse (3.33) Exercise (.63)
Colleagues (3.48)
Friends (4.06)
Mentor (3.24)
Small group (2.67)
Read (.33)
Sleep (.60)
Clean (.29)
Talk to friends (.69)
Pray (.76)
Eat (.24)
Talk to family (.57)
Exercise (.63)
Watch a movie (.50)
Organize (.24)
Drink alcohol (.00)
Worry (.35)
Talk to colleague (.31)
Sexual activity (.04)

10. PAI Scales Negative Impression Management (NIM)
Positive Impression Management (PIM)
Somatic complaints (SOM): C-conversion, S- somatic complaints, H- health concerns
Anxiety (ANX): C-cognitive, A- affective, P- physiological
Anxiety-related disorders (ARD): O- obsessive- compulsive, P- phobias, T- trauma
Depression (DEP): C- cognitive, A- affective, P- physiological

11. PAI Scales
Mania (MAN): A- activity level, G- grandiosity, I- irritability
Paranoia (PAR): H- hypervigilance, P- persecution, R- resentment
Schizophrenia (SCZ): P- psychotic experiences, S- social detachment, T- thought disorder
Borderline features (BOR): A- affective instability, I- identity problems, N- negative relationships, S- self-harm
Anti-social features (ANT): A- anti-social behaviors, E- egocentricity, S- stimulus- seeking
Alcohol problems (ALC)
Drug problems (DRG)

12. PAI Scales Aggression (AGG): A- attitude, V- verbal, P- physical
Suicidal ideation (SUI)
Stress (STR)
Non-support (NON)
Treatment rejection (RXR)
Dominance (DOM)
Warmth (WRM)

13. Trends in the data MAN-G- 10.4, T = 55 PIM- 16.12, T = 53
RXR , T = 53
STR- 6.42, T = 52
ANT-S- 5.62, T = 52

14. Speculative findings
Independent sample t-tests found the following statistically significant differences:
With regard to egocentricity (ANT-E), there were significant differences in the scores for married (M=2.24, SD=1.4) and single (M=3.3, SD=2.4) conditions; t(50)=-2.04; p = .047.
With regard to identity problems (BOR-I), there were significant differences in the scores for seminarians with previous psychological treatment (M=5.8, SD=4.1) and those with no previous treatment (M=3.7, SD=3.2) conditions; t(50)=- 2.1; p = .042.

15. Speculative findings
With regard to cognitive expressions of anxiety (ANX-C), there were significant differences in the scores for seminarians who use prayer as a coping mechanism (M=3.9, SD=3.0) and those who do not (M=7.0, SD=4.8); t(47)=2.7; p = .010.
With regard to antisocial behaviors (ANT-A) and verbal aggression (AGG-V), there were significant differences in the scores for men (ANT-A M=4.0, SD=3.3; AGG-V M=4.7, SD=2.4) and women (ANT-A M=1.4, SD=1.9; AGG-V M=3.1, SD=2.4); ANT-A t(50)=2.8; p=.006; AGG-V t(50)=2.1; p=.04. Additionally, women reported a statistically significant difference on coping with stress through talking to family members and organizing (p=.01 and .02, respectfully).

16. Speculative findings
With regard to thought disorders (SCZ-T), there were significant differences in the scores for seminarians who receive high social support from mentors (> or =3) (M=3.12, SD=2.0) and those who receive low social support from mentors (< 3) (M=5.0, SD=4.2); t(50)=-2.1; p = .04.
With regard to self-harm (BOR-S), there were significant differences in the scores for seminarians who receive high social support from family (> or =3) (M=2.2, SD=2.0) and those who receive low social support from family (< 3) (M=4.8, SD=0.5); t(50)=-2.6; p = .01.
Spousal support did not create a statistically significant difference across any variable from the PAI

17. Recommendations Model vulnerability in the classroom and the office
Create intentional exercises for seminarians to engage in the practice of self-reflection and disclosure
Build community among seminarians and move them out of their academic silos

18. Recommendations
Develop services that include the spouses and families of seminarians
Create more operationalized and intentional forms of mentorship between students and faculty, as well as between advanced and beginning students
Generate local norms for psychological assessments to add dimensionality to interpretive reports

19. Recommendations
We need to also explore the relationship between theological assumptions of personhood held by seminarians and the influence these beliefs have on reporting psychosocial functioning.
In our pilot study, the value on personal sanctification may confound the ability or willingness of participants to disclose psychosocial distress or struggle. Within this tradition, dualism may interfere with participants’ ability to hold a healthy tension between spiritual formation and psychosocial growth.