Do Resources Buffer Job Demands? Evidence From Firefighters’ Burnout and Well-Being

This cross-sectional study, grounded in the Conservation of Resources Theory, examined the role of personal (PsyCap) and organizational resources (learning opportunities) in relation to job demands and their association with occupational health among Brazilian military firefighters. The study involved a sample of 1,327 participants, 92.46% operational firefighters and 7.54% officers, recruited from 19 Brazilian states via an electronic survey. Two alternative theoretical models were tested: one examining a linear relationship and the other testing moderate effects between resources and demands. The findings were more consistent with the linear model, indicating that PsyCap was negatively associated with burnout and positively associated with well-being, while learning opportunities were associated with lower burnout levels. However, moderated effects were not statistically significant, suggesting that resources were directly related to occupational health outcomes rather than buffering the relationship between demands and outcomes. The results highlight the relevance of PsyCap as a personal resource associated with occupational health. The study also underscores the role of organizational context and work design in shaping the effectiveness of learning opportunities. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at strengthening personal and organizational resources may improve occupational health indicators among high-risk professionals. The research emphasizes the need for context-sensitive approaches given the unique challenges faced by firefighters. By advancing the understanding of resource-based processes, this study contributes to the broader literature on burnout and well-being in high-risk occupations.