Phenomenology of professional deformation among military psychologists of the National Guard of Ukraine under martial law
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33405/2078-7480/2025/95/4/353276Keywords:
professional deformation, professional burnout, military psychologist, components of professional deformation, work-related barriers, support resourcesAbstract
The article analyzes the phenomenology of professional deformation among military psychologists of the National Guard of Ukraine under martial law. The study was conducted as an anonymous survey; the final analytical sample comprised N=38 participants. Manifestations of deformation were assessed using an author-developed list of 20 indicators (five-point frequency scale), combined with blocks addressing barriers in professional activity and support resources. The findings indicate that most manifestations occur with moderate frequency, while five demonstrate high intensity: external motivation for professional activity; a formal, functional approach to people; decreased empathy; loss of meaning in professional activity; and stagnation of professional development.
Factor analysis identified four key components of deformation: (1) maladaptive rigidity and interpersonal tension; (2) affective reduction; (3) external regulation and role inflation; and (4) hyper-responsibility. Among the leading socio-psychological barriers in professional activity, respondents most frequently reported insufficient rest/sleep and resource exhaustion, low client readiness, and the absence of regular supervision/intervision. The primary organizational obstacles were bureaucratic demands and a lack of material resources.
The principal recovery resources included time spent with family and close others, collegial support, humor and brief team-based "recovery rituals", and physical activity. The practical significance of the study lies in the applicability of the results for monitoring the psycho-emotional state of military psychologists, timely identification of professional risks, organization of preventive measures, and development of professional support programs. Future research envisages the development of an authorial diagnostic instrument for assessing professional deformation among military psychologists and the empirical validation of the theoretical model.
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