Pastors Faring Worse Than U.S. Adults in Relationships and Well-Being, Study Finds—Yet Few Seek Help
A sobering new study reveals a troubling trend within America’s churches: pastors are experiencing significantly lower levels of relational and emotional well-being compared to the general population, yet the majority are not seeking the help they clearly need.
According to new research released by the Barna Group in partnership with Gloo’s “State of the Church 2025” project, pastors today face an escalating crisis of loneliness, burnout, and unmet emotional needs. The data, collected within the past two months, shows that only 55% of pastors rate their overall relational health as good or excellent, compared to 77% of U.S. adults. Even more concerning, just 38% of pastors describe their emotional well-being as strong.
This downward trend isn’t merely anecdotal—it’s statistical. The report states plainly: “Pastors are not doing well,” despite their public role as shepherds of their congregations. In fact, pastors score lower than U.S. adults across nearly every metric of personal and relational health, including friendships, marriages, and mentorship support systems.
What’s fueling this troubling disparity? The evidence points to a growing cultural isolation of spiritual leaders, increasing ministry pressures, and the often-unrealistic expectations placed on them by their congregations and denominations. Perhaps most alarmingly, the same pastors who are hurting the most are often the least likely to seek support.
Only 25% of pastors say they regularly meet with a mentor or counselor, and less than 1 in 3 feel they have a “true friend” they can confide in without fear of judgment or professional repercussion. Meanwhile, over half of pastors surveyed admitted they “frequently feel lonely.”
Barna’s report underscores that these issues are not new, but they are worsening. Since 2015, the number of pastors who have considered leaving full-time ministry has surged, with Gen X and millennial pastors citing emotional strain, family neglect, and lack of support as top reasons.
The contrast with the general population is stark. While mental health remains a national concern—particularly among younger Americans—most U.S. adults still report higher levels of emotional connection, community support, and relationship satisfaction than clergy. This suggests the issue is not merely about culture or age, but something specific to the role and pressures of pastoral life.
Eric Thompson, a conservative Christian commentator, believes the problem lies in the modern church’s failure to uphold biblical models of support and accountability. “Pastors are trying to bear the weight of ministry alone,” he says. “The Apostle Paul didn’t travel solo—he always had support. Today’s church leaders are isolated, not because the gospel changed, but because our model of ministry has.”
Indeed, part of the problem seems rooted in a shift from discipleship-based leadership to performance-based pastoring. Many churches have adopted a corporate, consumer-style model that elevates their leaders to celebrity status but isolates them personally. According to Barna’s data, fewer than 20% of pastors report having a circle of close friends within their own congregation.
Compounding this issue is the stigma surrounding pastoral vulnerability. While secular professionals are encouraged—even expected—to seek therapy or counseling, many pastors still feel such an action would be seen as weakness or even grounds for dismissal. One respondent in the study noted, “If I were to be honest about how much I’m struggling, I’m not sure I’d have a job next week.”
These fears are not unfounded. The same survey found that only 36% of church boards have formal structures in place to support pastors’ mental health or offer regular check-ins beyond performance evaluations. That leaves many pastors navigating emotional trauma, family breakdowns, and spiritual fatigue with little to no internal safety net.
What can be done? Solutions suggested by the report include building stronger peer networks among pastors, fostering transparency without fear of backlash, and creating mentorship structures rooted in Scripture and accountability. There is also growing consensus that seminaries and denominational leaders must do more to prepare clergy for the psychological toll of ministry, not just the theological and administrative aspects.
The crisis of pastor well-being should be viewed as more than just an occupational hazard. With fewer pastors entering the ministry, and many current leaders considering resignation, the long-term implications for the American church are profound. A spiritually and emotionally depleted clergy cannot lead a thriving church.
Thompson warns that ignoring this crisis risks further alienating churches from their mission: “If our pastors collapse, the whole structure falters. We need to stop treating them like CEOs and start treating them like brothers in Christ.”
The good news? Recognition is rising. Efforts like the State of the Church study are shining much-needed light on the silent struggles of those who serve. But change will require more than data—it will take action from congregations, boards, and Christian communities to restore the kind of relational support that Scripture prescribes.
If the church truly wants revival, it must first take care of its shepherds. After all, as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.