Abstract
This study explores the effect of emotional intelligence (assessed by the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale) on work-related psychological health (assessed by the two scales of the Francis Burnout Inventory) among 364 Anglican clergy serving in the Church in Wales (264 clergymen, 93 clergywomen, and 7 who did not disclose their sex). After controlling for personal factors (sex and age) and for personality dimensions (extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism), the data suggested that higher levels of emotional intelligence enhanced work-related psychological health both in terms of lowering negative affect (emotional exhaustion in ministry) and in terms of increasing positive affect (satisfaction in ministry). These findings suggest that there may be benefits in professional development programmes designed to develop emotional intelligence among clergy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barchard, K. A., Brackett, M. A., & Mestre, J. M. (2016). Taking stock and moving forward: 25 years of emotional intelligence research. Emotion Review, 8(1), 289. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073916650562.
Barnard, L. K., & Curry, J. F. (2012). The relationship of clergy burnout to self-compassion and other personality dimensions. Pastoral Psychology, 61, 149–163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-011-0377-0.
Boyatzis, R. E. (2007). Developing emotional intelligence competencies. In J. Ciarrochi & J. D. Mayer (Eds.), Applying emotional intelligence: A practitioner’s guide (pp. 28–52). New York, NY: Psychology Press.
Bradburn, N. M. (1969). The structure of psychological well-being. Chicago, IL: Aldine.
Brewster, C. E., Francis, L. J., & Robbins, M. (2011). Maintaining a public ministry in rural England: Work-related psychological health and psychological type among Anglican clergy serving in multi-church benefices. In H.-G. Ziebertz & L. J. Francis (Eds.), The public significance of religion (pp. 241–265). Leiden: Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004207066.i-495.90.
Büssing, A., Baumann, K., Jacobs, C., & Frick, E. (2017). Spiritual dryness in Catholic priests: Internal resources as possible buffers. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 9, 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000063.
Buys, C., & Rothmann, S. (2010). Burnout and engagement of reformed church ministers. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v36i1.825.
Cazan, A.-M., & Năstasă, L. E. (2015). Emotional intelligence, satisfaction with life and burnout among university students. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 180, 1574–1578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.309.
Chan, D. W. (2006). Emotional intelligence and components of burnout among Chinese secondary school teachers in Hong Kong. Teaching and Teacher Education, 22, 1042–1054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2006.04.005.
Chandler, D. J. (2009). Pastoral burnout and the impact of personal spiritual renewal, rest-taking, and support system practices. Pastoral Psychology, 58, 273–287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-008-0184-4.
Ciarrochi, J., Deane, F. P., & Anderson, S. (2002). Emotional intelligence moderates the relationship between stress and mental health. Personality and Individual Differences, 32, 197–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(01)00012-5.
Ciarrochi, J. V., Chan, A. Y. C., & Caputi, P. (2000). A critical evaluation of the emotional intelligence construct. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 539–561. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00119-1.
Cohen, A., & Abedallah, M. (2015). The mediating role of burnout on the relationship of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy with OCB and performance. Management Research Review, 38, 2–28. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-10-2013-0238.
Colomeischi, A. A. (2015). Teachers’ burnout in relation with their emotional intelligence and personality traits. Procedia: Social and Behavioral Sciences, 180, 1067–1073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.207.
Crea, G., & Francis, L. J. (2015). Professional burnout among Catholic religious sisters in Italy: An empirical enquiry exploring the protective role of quality of community life. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 26, 266–290. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004299436_018.
Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16, 297–334. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310555.
DeVellis, R. F. (2003). Scale development: Theory and applications. London: Sage.
Doolittle, B. R. (2007). Burnout and coping among parish-based clergy. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 10, 31–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670600857591.
Doolittle, B. R. (2010). The impact of behaviours upon burnout among parish-based clergy. Journal of Religion and Health, 49, 88–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9217-7.
Dulewicz, V., & Higgs, M. (1999). Can emotional intelligence be measured and developed? Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 20, 242–253. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437739910287117.
Durkee-Lloyd, J. (2016). The relationship between work-related psychological health and psychological type among Canadian Baptist clergy: A research report. Journal of Empirical Theology, 29, 201–211. https://doi.org/10.1163/15709256-12341343.
Evers, W., & Tomic, W. (2003). Burnout among Dutch reformed pastors. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 31, 329–338. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164710303100403.
Eysenck, H. J., & Eysenck, S. B. G. (1975). Manual of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (adult and junior). London: Hodder and Stoughton.
Eysenck, H. J., & Eysenck, S. B. G. (1991). Manual of the Eysenck Personality Scales. London: Hodder and Stoughton.
Fradera, A. (2015). When psychologists tried to replicate 100 previously published findings. The Psychologist, 28, 794–795.
Francis, L. J. (2005). Faith and psychology: Personality, religion and the individual. London: Darton, Longman and Todd.
Francis, L. J. (2018). Healthy leadership: The science of clergy work-related psychological health. Edited collection. In R. Brouwer (Ed.), The future of lived religious leadership (pp. 116–134). Amsterdam: VU University Press.
Francis, L. J., Brown, L. B., & Philipchalk, R. (1992). The development of an abbreviated form of the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQR-A): Its use among students in England, Canada, the USA and Australia. Personality and Individual Differences, 13, 443–449. https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(92)90073-X.
Francis, L. J., & Crea, G. (2015). Work-related psychological health and psychological type: A study among Catholic priests in Italy. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 18, 593–604. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2014.963996.
Francis, L. J., Gubb, S., & Robbins, M. (2012). Work-related psychological health and psychological type among Lead Elders within the Newfrontiers network of churches in the United Kingdom. Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, 40, 233–245. https://doi.org/10.1080/10852352.2012.680422.
Francis, L. J., Kaldor, P., Robbins, M., & Castle, K. (2005). Happy but exhausted? Work-related psychological health among clergy. Pastoral Sciences, 24, 101–120.
Francis, L. J., Laycock, P., & Brewster, C. (2017). Work-related psychological wellbeing: Testing the balanced affect model among Anglican clergy. Religions, 8(118), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel8070118.
Francis, L. J., Laycock, P., & Brewster, C. E. (2015). The burdens of rural ministry: Identifying and exploring the correlates of five causes of stress among rural Anglican clergy serving in multi-parish benefices. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 26, 218–236. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004299436_015.
Francis, L. J., Louden, S. H., & Rutledge, C. J. F. (2004). Burnout among Roman Catholic parochial clergy in England and Wales: Myth or reality? Review of Religious Research, 46, 5–19. https://doi.org/10.2307/3512249.
Francis, L. J., Payne, V. J., & Emslie, N. J. (2019). Just how emotionally intelligent are religious leaders in Britain? A study among Anglican clergy in Wales. Pastoral Psychology, 68, 261–269. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-018-0845-x.
Francis, L. J., Payne, V. J., & Robbins, M. (2013a). Psychological type and susceptibility to burnout: A study among Anglican clergymen in Wales. In B. R. Doolittle (Ed.), Psychology of burnout: New research (pp. 179–192). New York: Nova Science.
Francis, L. J., Robbins, M., Kaldor, K., & Castle, K. (2009). Psychological type and work-related psychological health among clergy in Australia, England and New Zealand. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 28, 200–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670701619445.
Francis, L. J., Robbins, M., Louden, S. H., & Haley, J. M. (2001). A revised psychoticism scale for the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire: A study among clergy. Psychological Report, 88, 1131–1134. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.2001.88.3c.1131.
Francis, L. J., Robbins, M., & Wulff, K. (2013b). Assessing the effectiveness of support strategies in reducing professional burnout among clergy serving in The Presbyterian Church (USA). Practical Theology, 6, 319–331. https://doi.org/10.1179/1756073X13Z.00000000021.
Francis, L. J., Robbins, M., & Wulff, K. (2013c). Are clergy serving yoked congregations under greater stress? A study among clergy serving in The Presbyterian Church (USA). Stress and Health, 29, 113–116. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2434.
Francis, L. J., & Rutledge, C. J. F. (2000). Are rural clergy in the Church of England under greater stress? A study in empirical theology. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 11, 173–191.
Francis, L. J., Ryland, A., & Robbins, M. (2011a). Emotional intelligence among church leaders: Applying the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale within Newfrontiers. In S. Boag & N. Tiliopoulos (Eds.), Personality and individual differences: Theory, assessment, and application (pp. 141–149). New York: Nova Science.
Francis, L. J., & Turton, D. W. (2004a). Recognising and understanding burnout among the clergy: A perspective from empirical theology. In D. Herl & M. L. Berman (Eds.), Building bridges over troubled waters: Enhancing pastoral care and guidance (pp. 307–331). Lima, OH: Wyndham Hall Press.
Francis, L. J., & Turton, D. W. (2004b). Reflective ministry and empirical theology: Antidote to clergy stress? In C. A. M. Hermans & M. E. Moore (Eds.), Hermeneutics and empirical research in practical theology: The contribution of empirical theology by Johannes A. van der Ven (pp. 245–265). Leiden: Brill.
Francis, L. J., Turton, D. W., & Louden, S. H. (2007). Dogs, cats and Catholic parochial clergy in England and Wales: Exploring the relationship between companion animals and work-related psychological health. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 10, 47–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670601012329.
Francis, L. J., Village, A., Robbins, M., & Wulff, K. (2011b). Work-related psychological health among clergy serving in The Presbyterian Church (USA): Testing the idea of balanced affect. Review of Religious Research, 53, 9–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13644-011-0003-8.
Francis, L. J., Wulff, K., & Robbins, M. (2008). The relationship between work-related psychological health and psychological type among clergy serving in The Presbyterian Church (USA). Journal of Empirical Theology, 21, 166–182. https://doi.org/10.1163/157092508X349854.
Gardner, L. (2006). Emotional intelligence and occupational stress. In C. Stough, D. H. Saklofske, & C. K. Hansen (Eds.), Emotional intelligence: International symposium (pp. 169–195). Croydon: Tertiary Press.
Golden, J., Piedmont, R. L., Ciarrocchi, J. W., & Rodgerson, T. (2004). Spirituality and burnout: An incremental validity study. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 32, 115–125. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164710403200204.
Goleman, D. (2000). Leadership that gets results. Harvard Business Review, March–April, 78–90.
Goleman, D. (2013). The focused leader. Harvard Business Review, 91(12), 50–60.
Hendron, J. A., Irving, P., & Taylor, B. J. (2014). The emotionally intelligent ministry: Why it matters. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 17, 470–478. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2013.848424.
Herrera, H. L., Pedrosa, I., Galindo, M. P. V., Suárez-Álvarez, J., Villardón, M. P. G., & García-Cueto, E. (2014). Multivariate analysis of burnout syndrome in Latin American priests. Psicothema, 26, 227–234.
Iqbal, F., & Abbasi, F. (2013). Relationship between emotional intelligence and job burnout among university professors. Asian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2, 219–229.
Joseph, E., Corveleyn, J., Luyten, P., & de Witte, H. (2010). Does commitment to celibacy lead to burnout or enhanced engagement. European Journal of Mental Health, 5, 187–204. https://doi.org/10.1556/EJMH.5.2010.2.2.
Joseph, N. J., Luyten, P., Corveleyn, J., & de Witte, H. (2011). The relationship between personality, burnout, and engagement among the Indian clergy. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 21, 276–288. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2011.607412.
Küçüksüleymanoğlu, R. (2013). Occupational burnout levels of Turkish imams. Review of Religious Research, 55, 27–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13644-012-0057-2.
Maslach, C., & Jackson, S. (1986). The Maslach Burnout Inventory (2nd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R., & Salovey, P. (1999). Emotional intelligence meets traditional standards for an intelligence. Intelligence, 27, 267–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-2896(99)00016-1.
Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence? In P. Salovey & D. J. Sluyter (Eds.), Emotional development and emotional intelligence: Educational implications (pp. 3–31). New York, NY: Basic Books.
Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., & Caruso, D. R. (2004). Emotional intelligence: Theory, findings, and implications. Psychological Inquiry, 15, 197–215. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli1503_02.
Miller-Clarkson, J. (2013). Examining the relationships of emotional intelligence and performance-based self-esteem with burnout among pastors. Unpublished PhD dissertation, Walden University.
Miner, M. H. (2007a). Changes in burnout over the first 12 months in ministry: Links with stress and orientation to ministry. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 10, 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670600841819.
Miner, M. H. (2007b). Burnout in the first year of ministry: Personality and belief style as important predictors. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 10, 17–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/13694670500378017.
Myers, I. B., & McCaulley, M. H. (1985). Manual: A guide to the development and use of the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Năstasă, L.-E., & Fărcaş, A. D. (2015). The effect of emotional intelligence on burnout in healthcare professionals. Procedia: Social and Behavioral Sciences, 187, 78–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.03.015.
Nel, J. A., Jonker, C. S., & Rabie, T. (2013). Emotional intelligence and wellness among employees working in the nursing environment. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 23, 195–203. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2013.10820615.
Parker, P. D., & Martin, A. J. (2011). Clergy motivation and occupational well-being: Exploring a quadripolar model and its role in predicting burnout and engagement. Journal of Religion and Health, 50, 656–674. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-009-9303-5.
Pau, A. K. H., & Croucher, R. (2003). Emotional intelligence and perceived stress in dental undergraduates. Journal of Dental Education, 67, 1023–1028.
Petrides, K. V., & Furnham, A. (2000). On the dimensional structure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 29, 313–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00195-6.
Petrides, K. V., & Furnham, A. (2003). Trait emotional intelligence: Behavioural validation in two studies of emotion recognition and reactivity to mood induction. European Journal of Personality, 17, 39–57. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.466.
Pfeiffer, S. I. (2001). Emotional intelligence: Popular but elusive construct. Roeper Review, 23, 138–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783190109554085.
Pizarro, D., & Salovey, P. (2002). Religious systems as ‘emotionally intelligent’ organizations. Psychological Inquiry, 13, 220–225.
Platsidou, M. (2010). Trait emotional intelligence of Greek special education teachers in relation to burnout and job satisfaction. School Psychology International, 31, 60–76. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034309360436.
Proeschold-Bell, R. J., Yang, C., Toth, M., Rivers, M. C., & Carder, K. (2014). Closeness to God among those doing God’s work: A spiritual wellbeing measure for clergy. Journal of Religion and Health, 53, 878–894. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9682-5.
Raj, A., & Dean, K. E. (2005). Burnout and depression among Catholic priests in India. Pastoral Psychology, 54, 157–171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-005-6200-z.
Randall, K. (2004). Burnout as a predictor of leaving Anglican parish ministry. Review of Religious Research, 46, 20–26. https://doi.org/10.2307/3512250.
Randall, K. (2007). Examining the relationship between burnout and age among Anglican clergy in England and Wales. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 10, 39–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670601012303.
Randall, K. (2013). Clergy burnout: Two different measures. Pastoral Psychology, 62, 333–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-012-0506-4.
Randall, K. J. (2014). Emotional intelligence: What is it, and do Anglican clergy have it? Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 17, 262–270. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2013.796916.
Randall, K. J. (2015). Emotional intelligence and clergy work-related psychological health among Anglican clergy in England and Wales. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 26, 291–301. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004299436_019.
Robbins, M., & Francis, L. J. (2010). Work-related psychological health among Church of England clergywomen: Individual differences and psychological type. Review of Religious Research, 52, 57–71.
Robbins, M., Francis, L. J., & Powell, R. (2012). Work-related psychological health among clergywomen in Australia. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 15, 933–944. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2012.698044.
Rodgerson, T. E., & Piedmont, R. L. (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. https://doi.org/10.2307/1388058.
Rossetti, S. J., & Rhoades, C. J. (2013). Burnout in Catholic clergy: A predictive model using psychological and spiritual variables. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 5, 335–341. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033639.
Rutledge, C. J. F. (2006). Burnout and the practice of ministry among rural clergy: Looking for the hidden signs. Rural Theology, 4, 57–65. https://doi.org/10.1179/rut_2006_4_1_005.
Rutledge, C. J. F., & Francis, L. J. (2004). Burnout among male Anglican parochial clergy in England: Testing a modified form of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 15, 71–93.
Saklofske, D. H., Austin, E. J., Galloway, J., & Davidson, K. (2007). Individual difference correlates of health-related behaviours: Preliminary evidence for links between emotional intelligence and coping. Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 491–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.08.006.
Saklofske, D. H., Austin, E. J., & Minski, P. S. (2003). Factor structure and validity of a trait emotional intelligence measure. Personality and Individual Differences, 34, 707–721. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00056-9.
Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9, 185–211. https://doi.org/10.2190/DUGG-P24E-52WK-6CDG.
Schutte, N. S., & Malouff, J. M. (2002). Incorporating emotional skills in a college transition course enhances student retention. Journal of the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, 14, 7–21.
Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., & Bhullar, N. (2009). The Assessing Emotions Scale. In C. Stough, D. Saklofske, & J. Parker (Eds.), The assessment of emotional intelligence (pp. 119–135). New York: Springer.
Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Bobik, C., Coston, T. D., Greeson, C., Jedlicka, C., et al. (2001). Emotional intelligence and interpersonal relations. Journal of Social Psychology, 141, 523–536. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224540109600569.
Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J., et al. (1998). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 25, 167–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00001-4.
Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., & Thorsteinsson, E. G. (2013). Increasing emotional intelligence through training: Current status and future directions. The International Journal of Emotional Education, 5, 56–72.
Slaski, M., & Cartwright, S. (2003). Emotional intelligence training and its implications for stress, health and performance. Stress and Health, 19, 233–239. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.979.
Stanton-Rich, H. M., & Iso-Ahola, S. E. (1998). Burnout and leisure. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 28, 1931–1950. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1998.tb01354.x.
Strümpfer, D. J. W., & Bands, J. (1996). Stress among clergy: An exploratory study on South African Anglican priests. South African Journal of Psychology, 26(2), 67–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/008124639602600201.
Turton, D. W., & Francis, L. J. (2007). The relationship between attitude toward prayer and professional burnout among Anglican parochial clergy in England: Are praying clergy healthier clergy? Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 10, 61–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670601012246.
Ünal, Z. M. (2014). The contribution of emotional intelligence on the components of burnout: The case of health care sector professionals. Electronic Journal of Business Ethics and Organization Studies, 19, 27–34.
Vesely, A. K., Saklofske, D. H., & Nordstokke, D. W. (2014). EI training and pre-service teacher wellbeing. Personality and Individual Differences, 65, 81–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.01.052.
Vicente-Galindo, M. P., López-Herrera, H., Pedrosa, I., Suárez-Álvarez, J., Galindo-Villardón, M. P., & García-Cueto, E. (2017). Estimating the effect of emotional intelligence in wellbeing among priests. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 17, 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2016.10.001.
Virginia, S. G. (1998). Burnout and depression among Roman Catholic secular, religious, and monastic clergy. Pastoral Psychology, 47, 49–67. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022944830045.
Warner, J., & Carter, J. D. (1984). Loneliness, marital adjustment and burnout in pastoral and lay persons. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 12, 125–131. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164718401200206.
Watkin, C. (2000). Developing emotional intelligence. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 8, 89–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2389.00137.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Francis, L.J., Emslie, N.J. & Payne, V.J. The Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Work-Related Psychological Health Among Anglican Clergy in Wales. J Relig Health 58, 1631–1647 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00798-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00798-7