In the JD-R model, what happens when job demands are high and personal resources are insufficient?

• A. Increased risk of burnout.
• B. Higher productivity.
• C. Lower fatigue.
• D. Improved morale.

Answer: (A)

In the JD-R model, stress and burnout arise when demands at work are high and personal resources to cope are low. When workload, time pressure, and emotional demands overwhelm a person who lacks energy, skills, social support, or coping capacity, energy depletes and protective buffers fail to kick in. That combination pushes the individual toward burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, detachment, and a reduced sense of achievement.

If resources were sufficient or if demands were lower, the negative impact would be buffered and motivation or performance could be maintained. The other outcomes—higher productivity, lower fatigue, or improved morale—don’t fit this high-demand, low-resource scenario, where burnout risk is the most likely consequence.