Spiritual Practices, Coping Strategies, and Emotional Resilience of Christian Pastors in Selected Cities of Laguna, Philippines

Emotional resilience among Christian pastors is shaped by spiritual engagement and coping processes; however, its multidimensional nature remains insufficiently clarified within pastoral contexts. This study aimed to examine the relationships among spiritual practices, coping strategies, and emotional resilience of Christian pastors in selected cities of Laguna, Philippines, with emphasis on how these factors interact within ministry demands and personal well-being. A descriptive–correlational research design was employed involving 40 Christian pastors from selected cities in Laguna. Data were collected using standardized instruments measuring daily spiritual experiences, religious coping (positive and negative), and emotional resilience. Statistical analyses included weighted mean, standard deviation, and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient to determine the levels and relationships among the identified variables. Findings revealed consistently high engagement in spiritual practices, particularly prayer, along with a high prevalence of positive religious coping and minimal use of negative coping strategies. Emotional resilience was found to be at a moderate level among the respondents. Correlation analysis showed a significant moderate relationship between spiritual practices and positive religious coping. However, no significant relationships were found between spiritual practices and emotional resilience, nor between coping strategies and emotional resilience. These results suggest that while spiritual practices reinforce adaptive coping mechanisms, they do not directly predict emotional resilience. Instead, resilience appears to be influenced by a broader set of psychological, social, and contextual factors. The findings highlight the importance of adopting a holistic approach to pastoral support, integrating spiritual formation with psychological and relational interventions. Overall, this study contributes to the growing literature on pastoral well-being and underscores the need for multidimensional strategies to strengthen resilience among Christian pastors in contemporary ministry settings.