A typology of burnout types among police managers

This exploratory study used a two-stage cluster analysis procedure and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to identify burnout types in a sample of 135 male Canadian police managers in the Sergeant Staff Sergeant ranks. Three clusters were identified: Laissez-Faire managers (n=15), well-adjusted managers (n=74), and distressed managers (n=46). A discriminant analysis of the three clusters using the 22 MBI items yielded two significant functions; one function reflected emotional exhaustion and depersonalization items and the other function personal accomplishment items. The functions correctly classified 94.1 percent of the managers. Implications for organizational policies and programs were presented for tackling police manager burnout as well as recommendations for further research on burnout types.