The relationship between perfectionism, religious coping styles, and job satisfaction in selected Southern Baptist pastors

The research problem was to investigate the relationship between trait measures of perfectionism, religious problem solving styles, and job satisfaction among selected Southern Baptist Pastors in Mississippi. The study results can be used by denominational leaders, religious educators, and seminar leaders to design educational programs to train pastors and ministerial students.; Data was gathered utilizing the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), the Religious Problem Solving Scales (RPSS), and the abridged Job Descriptive Index (aJDI), the Job in General Scale (aJIG), and a demographic questionnaire. The instruments and a cover letter were sent to pastors of churches in Mississippi. Surveys were mailed to 350 pastors, of which 123 responded with usable instruments.; The pastors scored highest in self-oriented perfectionism and collaborative religious problems solving. None of the measures of perfectionism or religious problem solving were positive predictors of job satisfaction. Socially prescribed perfectionism was a negative predictor of job satisfaction (r-.330).