Coping Strategies to Burnout in Christian Ministry Among Catholic Religious Men and Women Working in Rural Areas: A Case of Lodwar Diocese in Turkana County, Kenya
- January 29, 2022
- Posted by: rsispostadmin
- Category: IJRSI
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume IX, Issue I, January 2022 | ISSN 2321–2705
Wambua Pius Muasa (PhD)
Institute of Youth Studies, Tangaza University College
Catholic University of Eastern Africa
ABSTRACT
Coping with burnout in Christian ministry is critical for mental well-being of Church ministers. Based on the global concern of burnout in Christian ministry among Church ministers, the study aimed to explore the coping strategies used to prevent burnout in Christian Ministry among the Catholic religious men and women working in Lodwar Diocese. The study adopted phenomenological design. Using convenience sampling, a sample size of 16 Catholic religious men and women were included in the study. The qualitative data was collected using Focus Group Discussion Guide. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Some of the findings on coping strategies to burnout in Christian ministry among Catholic religious’ men and women were: Role modelling through culture of reading, taking a break from ministryamong others. The study recommends the future studies to conduct a similar study with Protestant clergy and other helping professionals working in Kenyan rural areas which were not part of this study.
INTRODUCTION
Coping with burnout in Christian ministry is critical for mental well-being of Church ministers. Globally, researchers have come up with strategies of coping with burnout among the helping professionals including the Church ministers. Studies have identified coping strategies to burnout among the Church ministers. For instance, a study by Staley et al. (2013) reveals that the action learning intervention plays a great role in reducing isolation among the clergy. A research with the Truro diocesan clergy also found that support for action learning is a resource for personal and professional support (Muskett & Village, 2016). A study with counsellors in the United States showed that group supervision intervention increased knowledge about burnout symptoms and healthy coping mechanisms among the participants (Natalya et al., 2015). Moreover, Jean (2017) study among veterinaries in Canada found supportive environment to be significant in reducing levels of burnout. Likewise, a study with mental health providers in United States found that where managers promote support collaboration and team work are also helpful in reducing employees’ burnout (Johanne et al., 2018).Others forms of support include social support (Lorenzo, Sebastian, Franco & Rolf, 2015), including having a supportive supervisor, supportive work-life policies, teaching one to compartmentalize, setting boundaries, and using humour (Sandina, Jennifer & Theodore, 2019). Physical exercise, leisure activities, contact with nature, self-expression, food, drinks, and social support provide self-care practice (Rahbel et al., 2020; Michelle et al., 2015). Other strategies to prevent burnout include goal setting, time and task management, and self-reflection through journaling (Nicole & Natalie, 2018).
