When the badge weighs heavy: decoding the role of self-efficacy and coping on police burnout through stress

Purpose This study aims to examine the moderating role of individual psychological resources − self-efficacy and proactive coping − in moderating the relationship between perceived operational stress and burnout among police personnel. It seeks to understand how these personal resources can mitigate the adverse outcomes of occupational stress within the policing context. Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative research design. Responses were collected from 480 police personnel across two districts in Maharashtra, India, representing various hierarchical levels within the police force. Standardized instruments − the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory, General Self-Efficacy Scale and Proactive Coping Inventory − were used with contextual modifications. Structural equation modelling was used to explore the relationships between stress, burnout and the moderating effects of self-efficacy and proactive coping. Findings The results confirm that self-efficacy and proactive coping significantly moderate the relationship between perceived stress and burnout. Self-efficacy notably impacted the stress depersonalization relationship, while proactive coping strongly affected emotional exhaustion. These findings highlight the differential impact of personal resources on various dimensions of burnout and reinforce their critical buffering role in high-stress environments such as policing. Attributable to the challenges of the Indian cultural context in general and the police context in particular, the study, contrary to expectation, reports findings where self-efficacy positively moderates the stress−burnout relationship and proactive coping with no significant moderation influence, underscoring the need for police reforms. Practical implications This study provides actionable insights for police training academies and administrators. Developing interventions to enhance sustainable self-efficacy and proactive coping can serve as protective mechanisms against burnout and improve resilience and job performance among police personnel. It also underscores the need for police reforms to overcome the contextual limitations that hinder the effective functioning of personal resources. Social implications By addressing individual and organizational factors, this research contributes to developing holistic, sustainable strategies for improving police well-being. Such efforts can enhance community engagement, reduce attrition and improve public service outcomes. Originality/value This study adds to the limited empirical research on psychological resilience in Indian policing. Contrary to expectations, this study reports positive moderation of the stress−burnout relationship by self-efficacy, which is attributable to contextual shortcomings, emphasizing the need for police reforms.