Occupational burnout and professional efficacy in physical education: a multilevel meta-analysis of the job demands-resources model

Introduction This study aims to update, synthesize, and provide meta-analytical evidence of the associations between specific Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) dimensions and psychological outcomes (burnout and professional efficacy) among physical education (PE) teachers. Methods Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the authors conducted a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis. In May 2026, five major electronic databases, such as Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, PubMed, and EBSCOhost, were searched for peer-reviewed cross-sectional studies examining JD-R antecedent variables and specified psychological outcomes in PE teachers. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, with a combined sample of 4,341 participants and 77 effect sizes included in the four target pathways. Results Multilevel meta-analyses indicated a positive association between job demands and burnout ( k = 17, r = 0.477, 95% CI [0.376, 0.568], p < 0.001) and a negative association between resources and burnout ( k = 53, r = -0.342, 95% CI [−0.435, −0.241], p < 0.001). Exploratory resource-subgroup estimates were r = −0.350 for personal resources ( k = 30, 95% CI [−0.523, −0.148], p = 0.002), r = −0.291 for organizational and social resources ( k = 7, 95% CI [−0.541, 0.006], p = 0.053), and r = −0.343 for other work-related correlates ( k = 16, 95% CI [−0.401, −0.282], p < 0.001). Exploratory country analyses indicated between-country differences, F (6, 46) = 4.476, p =0.0012. Neither resources nor demands were significantly associated with professional efficacy ( k = 4, r = 0.246, p = 0.517; k = 3, r = −0.432, p = 0.111, respectively). Sensitivity checks confirm the results held. Discussion The magnitude and direction of the link between teaching environments and psychological outcomes depend on specific JD-R dimensions and local cultural contexts. These findings support associations of greater resources with lower burnout and greater demands with higher burnout. Resource-subgroup and country-level findings require cautious interpretation because of the limited number of independent studies. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD420261385085 , CRD420261385085.