Psychological and motivational correlates in the particular case of professional burnout: the burnout among priests and nuns

Abstract

Drawing on the classic model of balanced affect, the Francis Burnout Inventory (FBI) conceptualises good work-related psychological health among clergy in terms of negative affect being balanced by positive affect. This study set out to examine the question regarding the prevalence and correlates of burnout among a sample of 129 Catholic priests and 157 religious sisters in Italy, who completed the Francis Burnout Inventory alongside the Short Dark Triad and the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that a higher Machiavellianism and Psychopathy score correlated with greater Emotional Exhaustion in Ministry, while higher Satisfaction in Ministry score was related to greater Narcissism and Emotional Intelligence. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the best predictors of distress and burnout. Machiavellianism and Psychopathy predicted Emotional Exhaustion in Ministry; Emotional Intelligence predicted Satisfaction in Ministry. The implications of these findings are discussed to prevent burnout in pastoral ministry.d age-groups.