The work environment of a psychologist as a factor in the formation of burnout syndrome

Abstract

The article presents information on a study of job satisfaction among psychologists with emotional burnout syndrome and analyzes their impact on the features of self-actualization. It was found that 30% (8 individuals) of psychologists are dissatisfied with their overall working conditions; 18 psychologists (70%) expressed dissatisfaction with one or more of the specific working-condition indicators studied; and in total, 25 psychologists (100%) with emotional burnout syndrome reported dissatisfaction with various characteristics of their work environment. The factors most frequently causing dissatisfaction were the physical working conditions themselves (24 individuals – 95%), salary (24 individuals – 95%), and length of the workday (25 individuals – 100%). Less often, dissatisfaction was directed at the organization’s leadership (management style – 17 individuals – 65%; and competence of the manager – 14 individuals – 55%). Correlational analysis confirmed the influence of working conditions on psychologists’ self-actualization. A high degree of influence of working conditions on self-actualization characteristics (rs > 0.7 at p < 0.05) was observed primarily for the impact of physical working conditions on time orientation, views on human nature, need for cognition, spontaneity, self- understanding, and self-sympathy. Thus, the key work-related risk factors provoking emotional burnout syndrome are identified, which should be taken into account when developing preventive programs at various levels.