Die interaksie van enkele fisieke-, gesondheid-, en emosionele welstandkonstrukte by predikante

Abstract

THE INTERACTION OF SOME PHYSICAL, HEAL TH-, AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS CONSTRUCTS OF MINISTERS OF RELIGION. Research amongst ministers showed that they are experiencing high levels of stress due to career demands and having to cope with problems on their own. (Hatcher & Underwood, 1990: 187; Virginia, 1998:50). This has a detrimental effect on their health (Sanford, 1982:2; Andrew, 1997: 15). Physical activity and maintaining a good level of physical fitness have positive effects on the blood lipid concentrations, glucose tolerance, blood pressure, immune system and psychological well being (Sandvik et al., 1993:533; Eichner et al., 1994:379). Longitudinal studies indicated that even by maintaining a moderate level of cardiovascular fitness, coronary heart disease and other illness that result in mortality can be decreased (Blair et al., 1989:2396; Blair et al., 1995:280; Blair et al., 1996:207). The objective of this study was firstly to determine the profiles of leisure-time physical activity, lifestyle, health status, coronary risk index, burnout and happiness of ministers of die Dutch reformed church in South Africa. Secondly to determine the effect of physical activity on the above mentioned parameters and thirdly to study the interaction of physical activity on the relationship between the above mentioned parameters. The subjects were 340 male ministers of the Dutch reformed church, who volunteered to participate in the study. The quality of participation in physical activity was determined with Sharkey's (1997:432) physical activity index. The lifestyle habits and health status were determined by using the Belloc and Breslow (1972:46) index and the illness rating scale of Wyler et al. (1968:363) respectively. The risk of developing coronary heart disease was determined by Bjornstrom and Alexiou's (1978:524-525)

coronary risk index assessment. The status of burnout was determined by using the Pines Burnout inventory (1981) while happiness or quality of life was measured by using the Affectometer 2 of Kammann and Flett (1983). The mean index of physical activity participation was 35.76_±32.98 which could be classified as fair although 42.6% of the subjects fell in the low activity group. The coronary risk index showed that 46% of the population indicated a high risk of developing coronary artery disease, while 14.63% indicated a high level of burnout and 43.81 % a low level of happiness or quality of life. Despite this bleak view, the participants had a mean health status index of 216.65_±243.04 that can be classified as good, while 22.85% of the subjects can be classified as having a bad health status and 70.95% maintained a healthy lifestyle. Significant diffirences (p≤0.05) were found among the high activity and low activity group regarding lifestyle, health status, coronary risk index, burnout and happiness or quality of life. Physical activity also showed a positive interaction on the relationship of lifestyle and health status, coronary risk index and burnout as well as on the relationship of burnout on coronary risk index. This study indicated that the ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church who participated in this study operated in a danger zone regarding their physical activity and coronary risk index. However, they indicated a healthy lifestyle and good health index, thus suggesting that another factor like religion could play a role. The results warranted the recommendations that physical interventions are made to address the problem of a high coronary risk index, burnout and low level of happiness and quality of life.