Prevalence of Burnout among Catholic Religious Men and Women Working In Rural Areas: A Case of Lodwar Diocese in Turkana County, Kenya

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue VII, July 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Prevalence of Burnout among Catholic Religious Men and Women Working In Rural Areas: A Case of Lodwar Diocese in Turkana County, Kenya

Wambua Pius Muasa¹, Sahaya. G. Selvam (PhD)², Elijah Macharia Ndung’u (PhD)^3
1,³Department of Counselling Psychology, Catholic University of Eastern Africa
²Institute of Youth Studies, Tangaza University College

ABSTRACT
Ministry burnout is a global issue of concern among the Church ministers across the world. Studies have shown that the majority of Church ministers leave ministry prematurely due to burnout which in turn affects their commitment to the Church. The study objective was to examine the demographic differences of age, gender, level of education, country of origin and vocational identity with respect to prevalence of burnout of among Catholic religious men and women working in rural areas. The study adopted descriptive research design and phenomenological design. Using census and convenience sampling, a sample size of 131 participants were included which comprised the whole population of the study. Quantitative data was collected using standardized questionnaires and qualitative data was collected using Focus Group Discussion Guide. Pre-testing of standardized instruments was carried out before the actual data collection to ensure its reliability and validity. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics using SPSS Version 32 while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Some of the study findings were: respondents’ level of burnout was above average, in terms of subscales, personal accomplishment had the highest (mean=30.61) followed by emotional exhaustion (mean=19.82) and level of depersonalization (mean=9.05).

INTRODUCTION

Burnout is a global issue of concern in all helping professions across the world (Aaron et al., 2019). According to Maslach, Jackson, and Leiter (1996), burnout is a psychological problem among professionals working in human services. These experts include instructors, social employees, counsellors, psychologists, community health workers and Church ministers. The study of burnout in scientific research emerged in 1974. At that time, Herbert Freudenberger, a psychologist, observed mental health professionals, working with drug addicts manifesting low levels of energy and motivation as a result of burnout (Freudenberger, 1974). Later, the emergence of a burning phenomenon aroused interest among experts working in helping professions. Maslach (1993) described burnout as “a psychological syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased personal achievement that can occur in people who work in some capacity with other people” (p. 19).
According to Maslach and Jackson (1996), three dimensions of burnout are conceptualized as independent of each other, but also occurring in a sequential manner. First, a person experiences emotional exhaustion which leads to depersonalization and finally lack of personal accomplishment. Emotional exhaustion is manifested through physical and mental fatigue, low motivation, and low energy,

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