Francis, Leslie J., Village, Andrew, Robbins, Mandy and Wulff, Keith M.. (2011) Work-related psychological health among clergy serving in the Presbyterian Church (USA) : testing the idea of balanced affect. Review of Religious Research, Vol.53 (No.1). pp. 9-22. ISSN 0034-673X

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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. In a random sample of 744 clergy (539 clergymen and 205 clergywomen) serving in The Presbyterian Church (USA), negative affect was assessed by the Scale of Emotional Exhaustion in Ministry (SEEM) and positive affect was assessed by the Satisfaction in Ministry Scale (SIMS). At the same time, burnout was independently assessed using self-report measures of overall health and burnout, and by the extraversion and neuroticism scales of Eysenck’s dimensional model of personality. These independent measures of burnout indicated higher burnout among those who were emotionally exhausted and lower burnout among those who had high levels of satisfaction with their ministry. Crucially for proving the idea of balanced affect, there was a significant interaction between the effects of SEEM and SIMS scores on these independent measures of burnout, showing that the mitigating effects of positive affect on burnout increased with increasing levels of negative affect.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute of Education
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. -- Clergy -- Psychology, Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. -- Clergy -- Job stress, Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. -- Clergy -- Job satisfaction
Journal or Publication Title:	Review of Religious Research
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	0034-673X
Date:	September 2011
Volume:	Vol.53
Number:	No.1
Page Range:	pp. 9-22
Identification Number:	10.1007/s13644-011-0003-8
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/41361

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