Humanities Studios: Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy

Gender, age and cultural characteristics of professional resilience in psychologists working in Ukraine's security and defence sector

Volodymyr Koss
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Abstract

This article provided a comprehensive analysis of the gender, age and cultural factors that determined professional resilience in psychologists working in Ukraine's security and defence sector (SDS). Professional resilience was considered an integral psychological characteristic that combined the ability to adapt to extreme conditions, effectively perform official duties and maintain personal well-being. The aim of this scientific article was to develop an integrative conceptual model of professional resilience of SDS psychologists in Ukraine, which takes into account the interaction of three key determinants – gender, age and cultural characteristics – and was aimed at improving the effectiveness of psychological support in the context of contemporary challenges to national security. The methodological basis of the study was formed by approaches from military and organisational psychology, the theory of psychological resilience, as well as empirical data from international sources adapted to the Ukrainian context. Particular attention was paid to practical recommendations for the implementation of resilience development programmes that take into account the gender, age and cultural characteristics of the target group. The study found that gender differences influence the choice of stress coping strategies, the level of emotional regulation, and the propensity to use social support. Age characteristics determined the balance between accumulated experience and flexibility in learning new approaches, which was crucial in the dynamic environment of the SDS. Cultural factors, in particular regional traditions, ethnopsychological attitudes, and organisational norms, determined the perception of psychological assistance and the level of acceptance of innovative working methods. The results obtained have significant practical potential: they can be used to optimise the training of military and law enforcement psychologists, improve the system of moral and psychological support, and develop interventions aimed at reducing the risk of professional burnout

Keywords

social support; professional burnout; age factors; cultural context; coping strategies; emotional regulation

Suggested citation
Koss, V. (2025). Gender, age and cultural characteristics of professional resilience in psychologists working in Ukraine's security and defence sector. Humanities Studios: Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, 13(4), 94-109. https://doi.org/10.31548/hspedagog/4.2025.94
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