Burnout and coping among parish-based clergy

Abstract

To investigate the correlation between burnout, coping strategies, and spiritual attitudes of religious leaders, parish-based United Methodist clergy were invited to complete a questionnaire booklet that included the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Hatch Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale, and validated coping scales. Of a total of 358 parish clergy, 222 (62%) completed the survey. Prevalence of high emotional exhaustion was 19%, high depersonalization 10%, and low personal accomplishment 11%. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that a higher spirituality score correlated with greater personal accomplishment, but also related to greater emotional exhaustion and greater depersonalization. Clergy were more likely to have greater emotional exhaustion and depersonalization if they employed coping strategies of venting, disengagement, and self-blame. Acceptance, active coping, planning and positive reframing were correlated with greater personal accomplishment, but less strongly with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. A higher spirituality score correlates with greater personal accomplishment but also greater emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Certain coping strategies, including acceptance, active coping, planning, and positive reframing may also protect against burnout. The implications of these relationships are discussed.