Moderating Role Of Coping Strategies In The Relationship Between Job Stress And Family Stress Among Anglican Clergymen In Enugu Province Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the moderating role of coping strategies in the relationship between job stress and family stress among Anglican clergymen. The sample consisted of Seventy-three (73) clergymen aged 27 to 57 years (M= 36.63, SD = 8.99) drawn from Anglican Communion Enugu Province, Enugu State, Nigeria. The study employed cluster and purposive sampling technique. Three scales job stress scale, family stress scale and brief-cope scale were utilized for data collection. A correlation research design was adopted and moderated regression analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS Macro (Model 2) was used to test the hypotheses. The results revealed that job stress did not predict family stress. Also, problem-focused coping strategies did not predict family stress, while emotion-focused coping strategies positively predicted family stress. Finally, problem-focused coping strategies did not moderate job stress in family stress, but emotion-focused coping strategies negatively moderated job stress in the family stress of clergymen. Emotion-focused coping strategy was associated with higher family stress when considered directly; however, it equally negatively moderated job stress in family stress of clergymen, indicating its buffering effect. Considering that emotion-focused coping strategy buffers the impact of job stress on family stress, the study recommends that clergymen development and formation programs should incorporate training in emotional coping skills.