Coping mechanisms and burnout among checkpoint soldiers in the IDF: a salutogenic perspective.

This article focuses on work-related burnout among soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) checkpoint units, which involve prolonged, sensitive interactions with civilian populations. In a cross-sectional study of 404 soldiers and commanders, the sense of coherence (SOC)—a concept from Antonovsky's salutogenic model of health—emerged as the strongest protective factor against burnout, followed by service motivation and perceived well-being. Burnout was measured using a shortened Maslach Burnout Inventory, and hierarchical regression analysis showed that personal characteristics, especially SOC, explained a substantial portion of burnout variance beyond demographic and situational factors. The study highlights the unique challenges faced by checkpoint soldiers, including low social prestige and emotional demands, and suggests that enhancing meaningfulness and SOC could inform targeted burnout prevention programs within military contexts.