A Replication Study Testing the Construct Validity and Internal Consistency Reliability of the Francis Burnout Inventory Revised Among Catholic Priests in Italy

Abstract

Abstract This replication study draws on data provided by a snowball sample of 264 Catholic priests serving in Italy to test the construct validity of the operationalisation of the balanced affect conceptualisation of good work-related psychological wellbeing among clergy proposed by the Francis Burnout Inventory Revised. According to this conceptualisation, the detrimental effects of negative affect, as assessed by the Scale of Emotional Exhaustion in Ministry (SEEM), are mitigated by positive affect, as assessed by the Satisfaction in Ministry Scale (SIMS). These replication data confirmed that there was a significant interaction between the effects of SEEM and SIMS scores on scores recorded on the Purpose in Life Scale (PILS), demonstrating that the mitigating effects of satisfaction in ministry on purpose in life scores increased with increasing levels of emotional exhaustion.