Professional pride protects Portuguese emergency responders from burnout

A study conducted by Soraia Oliveira, a professor at the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga (ISMT) in Coimbra, suggests that professional pride and a sense of belonging are vital in protecting firefighters and police officers from emotional exhaustion. The research, titled ‘Trabalho emocional, identidade profissional e envolvimento no trabalho em forças de socorro portuguesas’, examined 248 professionals, including 148 police officers and 100 firefighters.

The findings indicate that firefighters reported a higher level of engagement, scoring 4.7 out of six, compared to 3.9 for police officers. The study emphasizes that professional pride is a more significant protective factor than personal resistance or self-control. Oliveira noted that while pride helps these professionals endure the demands of their roles, it is a resource that requires care to prevent depletion.

To support these workers, the study proposes specific public policies, including resilience and emotional intelligence training, stress management practices such as mindfulness and physical exercise, and selection processes that account for the emotional demands of each profession.