PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROFESSIONAL RESILIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE SECURITY AND DEFENCE SECTOR DURING THE PERIOD OF MARTIAL LAW IN UKRAINE
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Published:
Jul 15, 2026
Abstract
The article examines the psychological characteristics of professional resilience among psychologists working in the security and defense sector of Ukraine under martial law conditions. The aim of the study is a theoretical and empirical analysis of resilience levels and the factors influencing its development in prolonged wartime stress conditions. The research employed a combination of methods, including literature analysis, psychodiagnostic tools measuring resilience, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and coping strategies, as well as statistical methods. The results indicate a predominance of moderate levels of professional resilience, the presence of burnout and secondary traumatic stress symptoms, and the significant role of adaptive coping strategies in maintaining psychological stability. It is concluded that professional resilience is a dynamic, multidimensional construct requiring systematic organizational and psychological support. Future research should focus on developing and implementing resilience-building programs for professionals operating in crisis and combat-related environments.
How to Cite
Koss, V. (2026). PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROFESSIONAL RESILIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE SECURITY AND DEFENCE SECTOR DURING THE PERIOD OF MARTIAL LAW IN UKRAINE. Baltic Journal of Legal and Social Sciences, (2), 426-436. https://doi.org/10.30525/2592-8813-2026-2-50
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Keywords
professional resilience, psychologists, security and defense sector, martial law, resilience, burnout, secondary traumatic stress.
References
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ing of a social worker, educator, psychologist in the conditions of martial law]. Naukovi Zapysky Lvivskoho Derzhavnoho Universytetu Bezpeky Zhyttiediialnosti. Seriia: Pedahohika i Psykholohiia, (2(6)), 138–144. DOI https://doi.org/10.32782/3041-1297/2025-2-21 [in Ukrainian].
4. Kokun, O. M. (2025). Zhyttiestoikist i rezylientnist liudyny v suchasnomu sviti: teoriia, doslidzhennia, praktyka: monohrafiia [Hardiness and resilience of a person in the modern world: Theory, research, practice: monograph]. G.S. Kostiuk Institute of Psychology of the National Academy of Educational
Sciences of Ukraine. URL: https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/744751/1/%D0%9C%D0%BE%D0%B-D%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%84%D1%96%D1%8F_%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BD.pdf [in Ukrainian].
5. Kovalenko, A., & Kaliuha, K. (2025). Psykholohiia kryzovykh sytuatsii: doslidzhennia reaktsii liudei na stresovi sytuatsii, vkliuchaiuchy travmy, katastrofy, vtraty ta inshi skladni podii [Psychology of crisis situations: research into people’s reactions to stressful situations, including trauma, disasters,
losses and other difficult events]. Grail of Science, (54), 638–647. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36074/grail-of-science.18.07.2025.075 [in Ukrainian].
6. Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer Publishing Company. URL: https://archive.org/details/stressappraisalc00rich
7. Lazos, H. (2022). Psykholyhy i viina: zmina paradyhmy nadannia psykholohichnoi/psykhoterape-vtychnoi dopomohy ta rezilientnist fakhivtsia [Psychologists and war: Changing the paradigm of providing psychological/psychotherapeutic help and the resilience of a specialist]. Organizational
Psychology. Economic Psychology, 3(27), 37–47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31108/2.2022.3.27.3 [in Ukrainian].
8. Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
9. Onyshchuk, K. (2025). Theoretical model of professional deformation among military psychologist of the national guard of Ukraine under martial law. Honor and Law, 3 (94), 83–91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33405/2078-7480/2025/3/94/349254
10. Overchuk, V. A. (2022). Kopinh-resursy yak chynnyk zberezhennia psykhichnoho zdorovia osobystosti v podolanni kryzysnykh staniv [Coping resources as a factor of preserving the mental health of an individual in overcoming crisis states]. Aktualni Problemy Psykholohii, 11(18), 177–191. URL: http://appsychology.org.ua/data/jrn/v11/i18/12.pdf
11. Pavlovska-Kravchuk, V. A., & Yehonska-Spenser, N. O. (2026). Psykholohichni determinanty rozvytku vtorynnoi travmatizatsii u personalu syl bezpeky Ukrainy [Psychological determinants of secondary traumatization development in the security forces personnel of Ukraine]. Naukovi Zapysky. Seriia: Psykholohiia, (1), 88–96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32782/cusu-psy-2026-1-10 [in Ukrainian].
12. Rutter, M. (2012). Resilience as a dynamic concept. Development and Psychopathology, 24(2), 335–344. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579412000028
13. Southwick, S. M., Bonanno, G. A., Masten, A. S., Panter-Brick, C., & Yehuda, R. (2014). Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: Interdisciplinary perspectives. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5(1), DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v5.25338
14. Tarasenko, O., & Assonov, D. (2024). Vtorynna travmatyzatsiia psykholohiv, yaki pratsiuiut zi svidkamy psykhotravmuiuchykh podii: ohliad literatury [Secondary traumatisation among psychologists working with witnesses of traumatic events: a literature review]. Psykhosomatychna medytsyna ta zahalna praktyka, 9(2). URL: https://uk.e-medjournal.com/index.php/psp/article/view/501 [in Ukrainian].