Burnout in the pastoral ministry

The primary purpose of this study was to isolate the demographic variables that correlate highly with high burnout. These relationships were investigated in a study with 103 pastors from five major metropolitan areas in the state of North Carolina during the spring of 1985. Data were collected using Maslach's Burnout Inventory (MBI) and a Demo graphic Survey (DS) developed by the researcher.

The results showed significant correlations between 22 demo graphic variables and at least one of six subscales of the MBI. Four variables showed correlation with at least one of the six subscales of the MBI at p < .0001. Fourteen variables showed correlation with at least one of the six subscales of the MBI at the p < .01 level, and 22 variables showed correlations with at least one of the six subscales of the MBI at the p < .05 level. Intercorrelations were run on the 22 variables to determine which variables showed significant correlations at the p < .05 level. Four variables (satisfaction with career, job security, congregational relations, and congregational support of leadership) showed significant correlations (p < .0001) with at least one of the six subscales of the MBI and significant intercorrelations (p < .0001) with each other. Thus it was concluded from the study that: (1) there are 22 DS variables which correlated significantly with burnout, and (2) there are four DS variables which correlated highly with high burnout, and also have significantly high intercorrelations.