Between Pressure and Performance : A Study of Burnout Profiles among Moroccan Middle Managers

This study builds on a doctoral research project examining occupational burnout in Moroccan private-sector companies, with a particular focus on middle managers. Its objective is to identify the organizational and psychosocial demands that contribute to burnout within this group. Although global awareness of burnout is increasing, the academic literature still shows a notable gap regarding the psychological profiles of managers experiencing burnout in Morocco. This research seeks to bridge that gap by providing a deeper, context-specific understanding of the phenomenon. A qualitative and exploratory methodology was adopted, combining life-narrative interviews with psychometric questionnaires. This dual approach was designed to capture both the subjective experiences and the measurable psychological dimensions of burnout, thereby enabling a comprehensive exploration of the individual and organizational factors that trigger or sustain the condition. Data analysis revealed four distinct psychological profiles of middle managers in burnout : the Autopilot, who functions mechanically despite emotional exhaustion ; the Excessively Devoted, whose overcommitment leads to self-neglect and eventual collapse ; the Work-Suffocated, overwhelmed by excessive workload and lack of recognition ; and the Wasted Talent, demotivated by a persistent mismatch between skills and assigned responsibilities. These profiles underscore the complexity of burnout experiences and highlight the need for tailored prevention and intervention strategies within organizational settings.