PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the psychological features of professional burnout among healthcare professionals, revealing the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon, which appears not only as an individual psychological crisis but also as a social phenomenon closely related to working conditions, cultural norms, and social expectations. The theoretical part of the paper outlines the history of the concept of «burnout», its structural components according to K. Maslach’s model, and current discussions on the correlation of this syndrome with stress and depression. Burnout is interpreted as a complex process that combines emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduction of professional achievements, while going beyond individual reactions and being embodied in physiological and existential dimensions. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the specifics of burnout in the medical profession. Constant contact with suffering, ethical conflicts, lack of resources and bureaucratic pressure form a vicious circle of exhaustion, which manifests itself not only in a decrease in the quality of work, but also in a crisis of professional identity. The practical part of the study was conducted at a hospital, where 46 healthcare workers of different ages and length of service were interviewed. A range of psychodiagnostic techniques was used, from the Maslach questionnaire to the Cactus projective technique by M. Panfilova. The results showed a clear correlation between the level of stress, emotional state and the severity of burnout symptoms, which suggests its systemic nature. Medical burnout has a direct impact on the quality of medical care: it weakens the ability to empathize, increases the risk of errors, and reduces patient trust in the health care system. The study emphasizes that overcoming this phenomenon requires not only individual self help strategies, but also structural changes in the medical field, from optimizing workload to creating psychological support programs. In this context, the results of the study can serve as a basis for the development of effective burnout prevention measures aimed at maintaining the emotional stability of physicians and improving the overall quality of medical services.