Structural Relationships between Counselors’ Sense of Calling, Meaning of Work, Living a Calling, and Psychological Burnout

Abstract

This study examined the influence of counselors’ sense of calling on psychological burnout, mediated by meaning of work and living a calling, based on the work as a calling theory (WCT) and preceding studies. Furthermore, the sequential mediating effects of meaning of work and living a calling were investigated. Data were collected from 420 Korean counselors working in counseling centers located nationwide and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that a sense of calling negatively impacted psychological burnout. Second, the sense of calling did not affect psychological burnout through the mediation of meaning of work. Third, the sense of calling negatively impacted psychological burnout through the mediation of living a calling. Fourth, the sense of calling negatively affected psychological burnout through the sequential mediation of meaning of work and living a calling. Based on this study’s findings, implications can be provided to enhance counselors’ professional calling and reduce psychological burnout, thereby aiding them in resolving their psychological issues during counseling practice and providing higher-quality psychological services to clients. Suggestions for improvements and future research are also discussed.