Moral Injury and Chaplaincy Panel

This presentation will present the findings related to the moral injury of chaplains from two separate studies. The first study was a 2020-2021 pilot study of a supportive intervention for chaplains working during COVID-19. This study highlights some of the nuances of chaplaincy that increase isolation and burnout risks, often due to morally injurious experiences. The second is a 2022-2023 cross-sectional study of helping professionals (chaplains, congregational clergy, and mental health providers) that investigated how several of the occupational hazards relate to moral injury. Chaplains consistently scored high for negative factors like moral injury, anxiety and depression, PTSD, and burnout. They also had the lowest scores compared to the other two professional groups for positive measures such as feeling adequately compensated, having supportive management, emotional well-being, and psychological well-being.