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Zhohlo O., Rudenko I., Zhohlo V. Emotional burnout of psychologists of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine under martial law: risk factors and prevention strategies

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Olha Zhohlo – Lecturer of the Department of Psychology of Activity in Special Conditions. National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine. Cherkasy (Ukraine)

ORCID 0009-0003-3869-4132

 

Ilona Rudenko – Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology of Activity in Special Conditions, National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine. Cherkasy 

ORCID 0000-0002-9992-6780

 

Volodymyr Zhohlo – Senior Lecturer of the Department of Fire-Rescue and Physical Training of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Operational and Rescue Forces, National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine. Cherkasy

ORCID 0009-0005-4984-193X

 

DOI - https://doi.org/10.52363/dcpp-2026.1.14

 

Keywords: emotional burnout, psychologists of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, professional stress, secondary traumatization, martial law, psychological recovery, extreme psychology, professional activity.

 

The article is devoted to a thorough theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of emotional burnout of psychologists of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine under martial law. The relevance of the study is due to a significant increase in the professional and emotional load on specialists of the psychological service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, whose activities take place in conditions of crisis events, constant contact with the traumatic experience of victims and high responsibility for the quality of emergency psychological assistance.

Emotional burnout is considered as a multidimensional dynamic phenomenon that is formed as a result of the long-term impact of chronic professional stress and secondary traumatization and is manifested in the growth of emotional exhaustion, decreased professional involvement, depersonalization and reduction of professional achievements. It is emphasized that the leading determinants of the development of burnout are not only the individual psychological characteristics of the specialist, but also the specifics of the organizational environment of the State Emergency Service, which is characterized by high intensity of work loads, lack of time for recovery and constant readiness to respond to emergencies.

It is generalized that the formation of emotional burnout occurs in the interaction of individual, professional and organizational factors, which determines its systemic nature in the specified professional group. It is substantiated that effective prevention of this phenomenon requires a comprehensive approach, which involves the development of self-regulation skills, the formation of psychological resilience, the implementation of supervisory support and optimization of organizational conditions of professional activity.

The conclusion is made about the need for further in-depth empirical study of emotional burnout of psychologists of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, taking into account the specifics of their activities under martial law, as well as the development of effective programs of psychological support and prevention of professional exhaustion.

 

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Date of first submission of the article to the journal: 26.04.2026

Date of acceptance for publication after peer review: 18.05.2026

Date of publication of the article: 31.05.2026

 

Publisher National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine, 2026

This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode.en

 

How to cite: Zhohlo O., Rudenko I., Zhohlo V. Emotional burnout of psychologists of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine under martial law: risk factors and prevention strategies. Disaster and Crisis Psychology Problems. 1(11). 2026. P. 172-184. https://doi.org/10.52363/dcpp-2026.1.14

 

Issue 1(11)-2026

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