Emotional burnout among firefighters
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33408/2519-237X.2026.10-1.134Keywords:
professional health of the individual, employees of emergency response agencies and unitsAbstract
Purpose. To analyze theoretical and methodological approaches to the problem of individual occupational health with the aim of introducing an independent definition of «individual occupational health». To conduct an empirical study of the occupational health of employees of emergency response agencies and units using the emotional burnout indicator.
Methods. To analyze the theoretical and methodological approaches of domestic and international scientists to the problem of individual occupational health. A.V. Boyko's «Emotional Burnout» methodology was used to study the level of emotional burnout as a component of the occupational health of employees of emergency response agencies and units.
Findings. A definition of professional health is provided as an integrated indicator of an individual's physical and mental health, characterizing their ability to maintain protective mechanisms throughout their professional life in order to achieve high performance in a given work environment. The level of emotional burnout as a component of the professional health of employees of emergency response agencies and units was studied. The emotional burnout phases of «tension», «resistance», and «exhaustion» were not developed in 80, 67 and 87 % of employees, respectively. Low or absent levels of emotional burnout indicate employees' satisfaction with working conditions and good relationships among colleagues, subordinates, and management. Employees of emergency response agencies and units possess stable self-regulation skills and psychological defense mechanisms, indicating high professional reliability and professional health.
Application field of research. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility of using A.V. Boyko's methodology for the timely detection of increased levels of emotional burnout and subsequent correction of the psychological state, developing the emotional resilience of employees of emergency response agencies and units to maintain their professional health at a high level.
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