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Proposed as a theory of motivation, the basic tenet of conservation of resources (COR) theory is that humans are motivated to protect their current resources and acquire new resources. Despite its recent popularity in the organizational behavior literature, several criticisms of the theory have emerged, primarily related to the central concept of resources. In this review, we address concerns regarding the conceptualization, conservation, acquisition, fluctuation, and measurement of resources. We highlight gaps in the COR literature that can be addressed by integrating research from other areas of psychology and management. In this manner, we hope to push the COR literature forward by resolving several concerns and providing suggestions for future research that might address other concerns.

SummaryThis study evaluates a salutogenic perspective of the burnout process. Building upon Hobfoll's (1989) Conservation of Resources theory, it proposes a simultaneous test of three hypothesized resources-based models. These competing models test the structure of burnout in relation to depleted resources (e.g., lack of skill utilization, of participation, of co-worker support, and of professional worth) and negative correlates (e.g., absenteeism and depression). SEM results provide equally good support for two resource-based models, although each of them proceeds from two different approaches (Leiter vs. Golembiewski). Of all burnout components, personal accomplishment is found to be least related to resources depletion, while emotional exhaustion is the most related to absenteeism and depression. Results are analyzed in light of existing literature and of the specific nature of the sample, a large population of French correctional officers (n ¼ 707). Implications for burnout theory and human resource management are discussed.

Cette recherche a pour objet de valider, pour la premie `re fois dans le contexte d'une e ´tude empirique, une traduction franc ¸aise du Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure (Shirom & Melamed, 2006). Propose ´par ses concepteurs comme une alternative au Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1981Maslach, Jackson & Leiter, 1996), ce nouvel outil de mesure du syndrome d'e ´puisement professionnel se pre ´sente comme une instrumentation de la the ´orie de conservation des ressources (Hobfoll, 1989). Sur la base de deux e ´chantillons, compose ´s respectivement de 203 et de 214 salarie ´s, la pre ´sente e ´tude non seulement valide une formulation en franc ¸ais des items en anglais, mais reproduit aussi de fac ¸on satisfaisante les qualite ´s psychome ´triques de l'e ´chelle d'origine.