Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Impact of Behaviors upon Burnout Among Parish-Based Clergy

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Burnout has an important impact upon the professional satisfaction of clergy. Identifying protective behaviors that may prevent against burnout is important for the long-term emotional health of individual clergy as well as the wider church. This research reports findings among 358 parish-based clergy that identifies the prevalence of burnout and correlates this data with demographic risk factors and protective behaviors. Clergy who met criteria for burnout were younger, identified themselves as being depressed and unsatisfied with their spiritual life, and have endured a traumatic church placement. This research also suggests that having a variety of interests and activities outside of one’s vocation may protect against burnout. In particular, behaviors that enhance relationships—such as seeking mentors and attending retreats—as well as pursuing outside activities—such as regular exercise and scholarly reading—protect against burnout. Further implications for the wider church are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Burke, R. J., & Greenglass, E. (1993). Work stress, role conflict, social support, and psychological burnout among teachers. Psychological Reports, 73(2), 371–380.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Catalan, J., Burgers, A., Pergami, A., Hulme, N., Gazzard, B., & Phillips, R. (1996). The Psychological impact on staff of caring for people with serious disease: The case of HIV infection and oncology. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 40(4), 425–435. doi:10.1016/0022-3999(95)00527-7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Comstock, G. (1972). Church attendance and health. Journal of Chronic Diseases, 25, 665–672. doi:10.1016/0021-9681(72)90002-1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doolittle, B. (2007). Burnout among parish-based clergy. Mental Health Religion & Culture, 10(1), 31–38. doi:10.1080/13674670600857591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, S., Huxley, P., Gately, C., Webber, M., Mears, A., Pajak, S., et al. (2006). Mental health, burnout, and job satisfaction among mental health social workers in England and Wales. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 188, 75–80. doi:10.1192/bjp.188.1.75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freeborn, D. (2001). Satisfaction, commitment, and psychological well-being among HMO physicians. The Western Journal of Medicine, 174, 13–18. doi:10.1136/ewjm.174.1.13.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, I. A. (2000). Burnout in teachers: Shattered dreams of impeccable professional performance. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56(5), 595–606. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-4679(200005)56:5<595::AID-JCLP2>3.0.CO;2-Q.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hatch, R., Burg, M. A., Naberhaus, D. S., et al. (1998). The spiritual involvement and beliefs scale. The Journal of Family Practice, 46, 476–486.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Institute, J. M. P. (2001). JMP statistical software 4.04. NC: Cary.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadushin, G., & Kulys, R. (1995). Job satisfaction among social work discharge planners. Health and Social Work, 20(3), 174–186.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C., & Iverson-Gilbert, J. (2003). Demand, support, and perception in family-related stress among protestant clergy. Family Relations, 52, 249–257. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2003.00249.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. (1996). Maslach burnout inventory manual (3rd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Microsoft Corporation. (2000). Redmond, WA.

  • Oktay, J. (1992). Burnout in hospital social workers who work with AIDS patients. Social Work, 37(5), 432–439.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paloutzian, R. E. C. (1982). Loneliness, spiritual well-being, and the quality of life. Loneliness: A sourcebook of current theory, research, and therapy (pp. 224–237). New York, NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K., Tarakeshwar, N., Ellison, C., & Wulff, K. (2001). Religious coping among the religious: The relationships between religious coping and well-being in a national sample of presbyterian clergy, elders, and members. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 40(3), 497–513. doi:10.1111/0021-8294.00073.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Randall, K. (2004). Burnout as a predictor of leaving Anglican parish ministry. Review of Religious Research, 46(1), 20–26. doi:10.2307/3512250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgerson, T., & Piedmont, R. (1998). Assessing the incremental validity of the religious problem-solving scale in the prediction of clergy burnout. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37, 517–527. doi:10.2307/1388058.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Church of Canada—Warren Shepell Research Group. (2003). The Survey of Ministry Personnel Study of Isolation in Ministry for the United Church of Canada. Presentation at 38th General Council. United Church of Canada.

  • Winefield, H. R., & Anstey, T. J. (1991). Job Stress in General Pracice: Practitioner age, sex and attitudes as predictors. Family Practice, 8(2), 140–144. doi:10.1093/fampra/8.2.140.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, D., Kasl, S. V., & Ostfeld, A. M. (1984). Psychosocial predictors of mortality among the elderly poor: The role of religion, well-being, and social contacts. American Journal of Epidemiology, 119, 410–423.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208030, New Haven, CT, 06520-8030, USA

    Benjamin R. Doolittle

Authors
  1. Benjamin R. Doolittle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benjamin R. Doolittle.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Doolittle, B.R. The Impact of Behaviors upon Burnout Among Parish-Based Clergy. J Relig Health 49, 88–95 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9217-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9217-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation