OBJECTIVE: To compare burnout levels in two groups of police officers, considering their working activities (administrative vs. operational). METHODS: Using a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), a group of 35 police officers involved in operational activities was compared to a group of 25 officers involved in administrative activities. The Student t test was used to compare the total scores obtained in the scale, as well as the scores obtained individually in each of the factors that constitute it. RESULTS: Considering a level of significance of 95%, no difference was observed between the two groups in the total scores obtained in the scale (p < 0.383) and neither in the three factors that constitute it, namely, emotional exhaustion (p < 0.76), personal accomplishment (p < 0.11) and depersonalization (p < 0.65). CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study suggest that the symptoms associated with the burnout syndrome are not determined by the type of activity performed. However, further studies are necessary for a better investigation of this syndrome and of its relation with the police officer job.
Burnout syndrome; police officers; occupational stress
