Psychosocial risk factors associated with burnout syndrome and its impact on the job performance of the operational staff of the Ventanas Fire Department.

Abstract

This literature review article analyzes the available scientific evidence on psychosocial risk factors associated with burnout syndrome and its impact on the job performance of fire department operational personnel. Through an integrative documentary review of literature published between 2019 and 2025 in specialized databases, the main job demands faced by these professionals were identified, including extended shifts, exposure to traumatic events, emotional burden, and role ambiguity. The analysis is grounded in the Job Demands-Resources model, which enables understanding of the dual pathway between high demands and exhaustion, as well as the protective role of resources such as social support, role clarity, and transformational leadership. Findings reveal that burnout mediates the relationship between work stress and reduced safety behaviors, inadequate use of personal protective equipment, and impaired teamwork. Evidence also demonstrates that sleep disturbances and fatigue operate as central nodes connecting demands with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization symptoms. Practical implications derived from this systematic review point toward multilevel interventions integrating adequate shift management, sleep hygiene programs, leadership competency development, and peer support systems. These evidence-based findings provide practical guidance for occupational health management in emergency services organizations around the world. The strategies identified are potentially transferable to the specific context of the Ventanas Fire Department in Ecuador, aligning with current normative frameworks established by the World Health Organization and International Labour Organization regarding mental health promotion and psychosocial risk prevention in occupational workplace settings.