The Effect of Meaning in Life and Emotional Intelligence on Work-Related Psychological Well-Being Among Roman Catholic Priests in Indonesia

Work-related psychological health and professional burnout are significant concerns among clergy across various denominations and cultures. This study examines the impact of meaning in life, assessed by the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and emotional intelligence, assessed by the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, on work-related psychological health among 198 Roman Catholic priests in Indonesia (84 diocesan priests and 114 religious priests). The psychological health of the participants was measured using the two scales of the Francis Burnout Inventory. The results indicated that higher levels of emotional intelligence enhanced work-related psychological health by both reducing negative affect (emotional exhaustion in ministry) and increasing positive affect (satisfaction in ministry). These findings suggest that evaluating emotional intelligence in candidates for ordained ministry and incorporating emotional intelligence training into priesthood formation programs could help reduce the risk of burnout and enhance overall well-being among priests.