Peer Support: An Intervention Program for Ministers' Wives

Abstract

Reports on pilot research focusing on the effects of a peer social support program for ministers' wives. Compares wives who participated in the support group with those in a wait-control group. Posttest scores on measures of burnout were lower in the support group; and scores on a measure of marital satisfaction were higher for wives who participated in the four week intervention program. Recommends ways of improving the intervention program and encourages pastoral counseling centers and other helping agencies to develop similar cross-denominational support programs for the spouses of parish ministers.