Saúde mental no trabalho policial: burnout e modos de enfrentamento em duas corporações brasileiras

Jacqueline Flores de Oliveira; Fernando Braga dos Santos; Thiago Roberto Arroyo; Evellym Vieira; Marcio Andrade Borges; Luciano Garcia Lourenção

doi:10.31211/rpics.2025.11.2.399

Authors

Jacqueline Flores de Oliveira Universidade Federal do Rio Grande https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0598-3881
Fernando Braga dos Santos Universidade Federal do Rio Grande https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7775-2521
Thiago Roberto Arroyo Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3759-4346
Evellym Vieira Universidade Federal do Rio Grande https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1818-6846
Marcio Andrade Borges Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4597-2597
Luciano Garcia Lourenção Ministério da Previdência Social https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1240-4702

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2025.11.2.399

Keywords:

Psychological adaptation, Coping strategies, Job burnout, Military personnel, Occupational stress

Abstract

Background: Occupational stress among military police officers can trigger burnout syndrome, affecting mental health and job performance. Effective coping strategies may mitigate these effects. Objective: To examine the presence of burnout and the coping strategies used by military police officers in two Brazilian police forces. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 773 military police officers (87.3% men; M = 34.5 years; response rate = 30.8%) from the states of São Paulo and Paraná, drawn from a population of 2,512 officers. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and occupational questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), and the Brazilian version of the Ways of Coping Checklist. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted. Results: High emotional exhaustion (23.2%) and depersonalization (44.8%) scores indicated a risk of burnout; however, 67.3% reported high personal accomplishment, and no participant met criteria for burnout syndrome according to the adopted cut-off scores. Greater use of problem-focused coping and seeking social support was associated with lower emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and higher personal accomplishment (p ≤ .05). Conclusions: The findings underscore the relevance of coping strategies in reducing occupational stress and promoting mental health. Organizational support, social support networks, improved working conditions, and interventions that strengthen adaptive coping may enhance quality of life and sustain professional performance in this population.

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