Burnout Syndrome and Its Effect on Performance of Presbyterian Clergy in Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress, manifesting in three key dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. The purpose of the study was to assess burnout syndrome among the Presbyterian clergy of Nyeri county, Kenya and their coping mechanism. The objectives of the study included: to determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome among the clergy in Nyeri county, Kenya , to identify the causes of burnout syndrome among the clergy; to analyze the coping skills in managing burnout syndrome and to establish the support system on burnout syndrome among the clergy. Using a descriptive research design the study targeted a population of 89 church ministers serving the Presbyterian church of east Africa at the Nyeri County. A census was considered since the population size was small. A likert scaled questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The questionnaire was pretested for validity using expert analysis while reliability was assessed using Cronbach alpha. Data analysis included descriptive statistics followed by inferential statistics. Results were presented in form of tables, numbers and percentages. Results revealed that emotional exhaustion was common among clergy, with higher rates among diploma holders and women. Clergy with over 10 years of experience mostly reported moderate exhaustion, while those with less experience had higher burnout levels. Despite this, 60.0% of clergy showed moderate performance, and there was no significant link between emotional exhaustion or cognitive weariness and performance. 47.1% of clergy experienced moderate spiritual despair, and those with higher education levels, especially postgraduate holders, showed lower behavior change in response to spiritual struggles. Potential interventions may include training programs focused on stress management, organizational changes to reduce workload, and the provision of professional mental health support. Such measures would likely enhance the overall well-being of clergy, improve job performance, and ensure the sustainability of church operations.