Psychosocial and occupational determinants of burnout syndrome in medical residents: a narrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1679-9836.v105i6e-249295Keywords:
Occupational Stress, Stress, Psychological, Education, Medical, Internship and Residency, Burnout, ProfessionalAbstract
Medical residency is a fundamental stage of specialized training; however, it also represents a high-risk environment for occupational illness. This study analyzed the occupational and psychosocial determinants of burnout syndrome among medical residents, as well as its pathophysiological mechanisms and prevention strategies. A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, SciELO, and the Virtual Health Library (BVS), including studies published between 2020 and 2025. The findings indicate that burnout is not limited to emotional exhaustion but constitutes a biological condition associated with prolonged exposure to working hours exceeding 60 hours per week, chronic sleep deprivation, and adverse work environments, which contribute to social isolation and increased self-demand. This continuous stress dysregulates the neuroendocrine response and increases allostatic load, resulting in alterations in cortisol secretion, systemic inflammation, and impairment of prefrontal cortex functions. Additionally, depersonalization, increased medical errors, higher cardiovascular risk, and professional abandonment are observed. The results suggest that burnout in medical residency arises from structural aspects of the training model rather than individual failures of resilience. It is concluded that institutional strategies, including continuous monitoring of residents’ health, implementation of formal mentorship programs, and adequate scheduling of rest periods, are necessary to reduce occupational illness and promote safer and more sustainable medical training.
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Copyright (c) 2026 José Lopes, Luiz Filipe Pereira Gomes, Pedro Cassimiro Reis, Lucas Azevedo de Oliveira Carvalho
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