Between the uniform and the toll: burnout and mental health among Brazilian Military Police.

OBJECTIVES

to examine the association between burnout and sociodemographic, occupational, and health-related factors among Brazilian Military Police officers.

METHODS

cross-sectional study conducted between November and December 2024 with 1,028 participants. Burnout was assessed using the Burnout Assessment Tool, with descriptive and inferential analyses.

RESULTS

most participants were men (81.9%) and Brown (pardo) (49.6%); mean age was 41.9 ± 6.5 years. Burnout ranged from moderate to very high in 75.4%. Age, years of service, and physical inactivity were negatively correlated with burnout. Scores were significantly higher among women, White participants, those with a college degree, fixed shifts, physical inactivity, long-term medication use, prior psychological care, and addiction.

CONCLUSIONS

burnout reflects an imbalance between high job demands and limited institutional resources, consistent with the Job Demands-Resources model. Findings underscore the need for interdisciplinary policies, healthy workplaces, and mental health care aligned with SDGs 3 and 8, reinforcing nursing's strategic role.