Purpose in Life as Protection Against Professional Burnout Among Catholic Priests and Religious in Italy: Testing the Insights of Logotherapy

Abstract Logotherapy, grounded in the insights of Viktor Frankl, suggests that meaning-making and sense purpose life is central to healthy human functioning. This thesis was tested among a sample 156 Catholic priests religious sisters Italy; their functioning assessed through two indices positive affect (satisfaction ministry) negative (emotional exhaustion proposed by Francis Burnout Inventory. After controlling for personal factors (age sex) psychological (emotionality extraversion/introversion), data demonstrated higher scores on Purpose Life Scale were associated with both Satisfaction Ministry lower Emotional Exhaustion Ministry. These findings suggest professional burnout poor work-related health may, at least part, be attributed life. In light this empirical evidence, therapeutic techniques developed logotherapy may relevant addressing problem sisters.