Exploring Race Differences in the Relationship between Social Interaction with the Clergy and Feelings of Self-Worth in Late Life

The purpose of this study is to see if emotional support from the clergy and negative interaction with clergy are associated with feelings of self-esteem in late life. A special emphasis is placed on assessing race differences in the relationships among these constructs. Data from a nationwide survey of older whites and older African Americans reveal that emotional support from the clergy tends to bolster the self-esteem of older blacks, but not older whites. The findings further indicate that negative interaction with a pastor is associated with diminished feelings of self-worth, but race differences failed to emerge in the relationship between these constructs. Instead, unpleasant interaction with the clergy was related to lower self-esteem only among older people who did not use religious coping responses to deal with these interpersonal problems.