Which of the following is NOT a protective factor for burnout risk in healthcare?

• A. Supervisor support
• B. Autonomy/organizational control
• C. Access to social support and resilience training
• D. Chronic exposure to stress without relief

Answer: (D)

Protective factors are resources that help healthcare workers cope with demanding work and prevent burnout. Supervisor support provides emotional backing, guidance, and practical help, which reduces perceived strain and supports well-being. Having autonomy and organizational control gives clinicians a sense of agency over their work, which buffers stress and sustains motivation. Access to social support and resilience training strengthens coping skills and provides a network to lean on during tough times, lowering burnout risk.

Chronic exposure to stress without relief, on the other hand, is a sustained, unmitigated stressor. Without recovery or buffers, this kind of ongoing strain drives emotional exhaustion, detachment, and a sense of reduced accomplishment, increasing burnout risk rather than protecting against it. So the statement describing persistent, unrelieved stress is not a protective factor.