The longitudinal effects of individual vulnerability, organisational factors, and work–home interaction on burnout among male church ministers in Norway

Abstract

This study examines the longitudinal effects of individual vulnerability, organisational factors, and work–home interaction on burnout among male church ministers in Norway. As part of a large two-wave panel study on burnout, 408 male church ministers responded in 2003 and 308 responded in 2005. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships were examined using ahierarchical regression analysis. Overall, the results indicate that burnout in male church ministers in many cases may have multiple precursors. Individual factors, working environment, and the interaction of work and home are all important contributors to burnout. A strong goal orientation, a feeling of value-congruency, autonomy, and perceived work–home facilitation are associated with lower levels of burnout. Conversely, the risk of burnout increases when the respondent's self-esteem is mainly based on job performance, perceived high workload and/or when work–home conflict is prevalent.

Keywords:

• church minister
• burnout
• individual vulnerability
• workload
• autonomy
• work–home interaction