Die gesinsdinamika van pastoriegesinne in die drie Afrikaanse kerke

Abstract

The divorce rate among white South Africans is disturbing. There are indications of a growing divorce rate also among families of ministers of religion. Little scientific research seems to be available on the marital and family life of ministers, especially in the RSA. The aim of the research on which this article is based was to determine whether significant differences occur between the marital and family dynamics of ministers' families and the families of parishioners. Thirty clerical couples and some of their children (N=96) and thirty parish couples and some of their children (N=95) were involved in the research. Six measuring instruments were applied in evaluating the families. The results seem to indicate that the clerical couples experience their marital dynamics significantly better than the other married couples on 12 o f the 19 dimensions which were evaluated. With regard to family functioning the ministers’ families performed significantly better than the parish fa milies on six of the 14 dimensions. There are indications, however, that the clerical couples represented their marital and family functioning in a more positive light than was the case in reality. Therefore no really valid interpretations can be made from the results.