Testing the AQ10 as a Predictor of Poor Work-Related Psychological Wellbeing Among Newly Ordained Anglican Clergy in England

Abstract

Although the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ10) was originally designed to identify referrals for professional diagnosis for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), recent studies suggest that this instrument may also be tapping more generalised affective disorders. Working with this revised interpretation and a slightly revised measure (dropping one item), this study examines the predictive power of the AQ10 to account for additional variance, after personal and personality factors have been taken into account, on the two scales of the Francis Burnout Inventory. Data provided by 388 Anglican curates serving in their second year of ministry in the Church of England or the Church in Wales demonstrated that 3.8% of the participants recorded six or more red flags on the AQ10 (and so qualified for referral for specialist diagnostic assessment) and that higher scores on the revised AQ10 are associated with significantly lower levels of satisfaction in ministry and with significantly higher levels of emotional exhaustion in ministry. These data suggest that screening with the AQ10 may be helpful in identifying clergy vulnerable to professional burnout and to poor work-related psychological wellbeing, as well as identifying qualification for referral for specialist diagnostic assessment.