Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being of Pastors' Wives in Southern Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study on Vulnerabilities and Institutional Support Gaps (2024-2025)
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: "Beyond the Pulpit's Shadow: Unveiling the Silent Crisis Among Pastors' Wives in Cameroon" Through intimate, anonymous testimonies from 30 pastors' wives across 27 communities, we uncover a disturbing paradox: women serving at the epicenter of faith communities are experiencing profound isolation, with 66.7% reporting constant depression and 100% trapped in webs of institutional distrust. They describe living in "spiritual aquariums"—constantly watched, yet profoundly alone. The findings reveal systemic failures that transcend individual stories: seminary training that leaves women unprepared, church structures that breed suspicion rather than support, and a culture where seeking help risks one's husband's ministry. Most strikingly, every participant feared confiding in fellow pastors' wives, knowing their vulnerabilities could become weapons in ecclesiastical politics.
Institution: Université de Yaoundé I
Language: English
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7117312246
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