Orientation to the demands of ministry: Construct validity and relationship with burnout

Journal article

Miner, Maureen, Sterland, Sam and Dowson, Martin. (2009). Orientation to the demands of ministry: Construct validity and relationship with burnout. Review of Religious Research. 50(4), pp. 463 - 479.
AuthorsMiner, Maureen, Sterland, Sam and Dowson, Martin
Abstract

This study investigates a new understanding of clergy burnout based on the proposed psychological consequences of secularization. A new construct, internal orientation to ministry, was hypothesized to be associated with clergy burnout and distress. A sample of 262 Protestant ministers in Australia completed measures of burnout, anxiety, depression, religious self-esteem and religious problem-solving, as well as the Orientations to the Demands of Ministry Survey (ODM-S), which was developed to assess internal orientations towards ministry demands in a secularized society. Correlations with other religious measures supported the construct validity of the ODM-S. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that a weak internal ministry orientation was a significant predictor of burnout, depression and anxiety over and above the effects of key demographic and other religious measures. Together, the results of the study highlight the role of a weak internal orientation to ministry as a psychologically "toxic" response to the undermining social forces of secularization.

KeywordsBurnout; Pastors; Clergy; Secularization; Self esteem; Depressive disorders; Churches; Psychology of religion; Anxiety; Locus of control
Year2009
JournalReview of Religious Research
Journal citation50 (4), pp. 463 - 479
PublisherSpringer Netherlands
ISSN0034-673X
Scopus EID2-s2.0-67651102750
Web address (URL)http://www.jstor.org/stable/25593758
https://www.jstor.org/stable/25593758
Page range463 - 479
Research GroupNCLS Research
Place of publicationNetherlands
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