Work engagement and Burnout in Christian Ministry among Catholic Religious Men and Women Working In Rural Areas: A Case of the Lodwar Diocese in Turkana County, Kenya.
- March 13, 2022
- Posted by: rsispostadmin
- Categories: IJRISS, Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue II, February 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Wambua Pius Muasa (PhD)
Institute of Youth Studies, School of Arts and Social Sciences
Tangaza University College, Catholic University of Eastern Africa
ABSTRACT
Ministry burnout is a global issue of concern among the Church ministers worldwide. Studies have shown that most Church ministers leave ministry prematurely due to burnout, which affects their commitment to the Church. Based on the global concern of burnout in ministry among Church ministers, the study was guided by the following objectives: To establish the levels of worker engagement among the Catholic religious men and women working in Lodwar Diocese Kenya; to determine the relationship between work engagement and burnout in Christian ministry among the Catholic religious men and women working in Lodwar Diocese Kenya. The study adopted an embedded mixed-method research design specifically correlational and phenomenological designs. Using census and convenience sampling, a sample size of 131 Catholic religious men and women were included in the study. Quantitative data were collected using standardized questionnaires and qualitative data was collected using Focus Group Discussion Guide. Before the actual data collection, pre-testing of standardized instruments was carried out to ensure its reliability and validity. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis using SPSS Version 32, while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings showed that work engagement was above average. This is because all the subscales of work engagement scored a mean above 2.5. Specifically, the subscale of dedication had the highest mean (mean=4.11, SD=.45), followed by vigour (mean=3.79, SD=.51) and absorption (mean=3.55, SD=.56). The study found a weak negative and significant association between vigour and depersonalization (r=-0.199, p>0.05), as well as a weak positive and significant relationship between vigour and personal accomplishment (r=0.228, p>0.05).
INTRODUCTION
Church ministers are called to serve the humanity through various ministries and therefore, work engagement plays a significant role in their vocation. They are called to minister to humanity other than just working to earn a living. They are likely to demonstrate energy and enthusiasm in their work because they do what they are called to do. Moreover, they are likely to be dedicated and absorbed in their ministry work. Those Church ministers scoring high in work engagement are likely to experience low levels of burnout.
Work engagement is defined as a state of mind in which individuals find their daily routines personally meaningful, are enthusiastic and passionate about their employment and are involved with, devoted to, and excited about their work. Work engagement refers to an employee’s ability to work for an organization with defined job qualities to achieve a desired organizational goal while on the job. Work engagement was defined by Shuck and Wollard (2010) as an “individual employee’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioural state directed toward a desirable organizational objective” (p. 103).
On the other hand, 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, and occur sequentially. First, a person experiences emotional exhaustion leading to depersonalization and a lack of personal accomplishment. Emotional exhaustion is manifested through physical and mental fatigue, low motivation, low energy, sleep problems and feeling depression. This exhaustion leads to depersonalization which is manifested through withdrawal and lack of any concern to those in need of care. Lack of personal accomplishment is manifested through low self-esteem, feeling of incompetence and low productivity in the place of work (Maslach & Jackson, 1986; Maslach, Jackson, & Leiter, 1996).
