Reducing work-related burnout among police officers: The impact of job rewards and health-oriented leadership

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine if work effort is associated with burnout among police officers and if job rewards and healthoriented leadership can mitigate the potential adverse effects of high work effort on officers’ mental health. Data were collected in a German police department (n = 573). The results indicated that high work effort was associated with higher levels of burnout while job rewards and health-oriented leadership were associated with lower levels of burnout. Additionally, health-oriented leadership buffered the effects of work effort on police officers’ burnout levels while job rewards showed no buffering effect. The results emphasize the importance of leadership for health promotion in policing.