Title : Factors of psychological well-being among practicing psychologists in the context of axiopsychological model of posttraumatic growth
Abstract:
The global crisis conditions characterized by systemic instability may cause unprecedented psychological challenges for well-being of mental health professionals. Practicing psychologists must navigate their own personal safety while simultaneously providing critical care to a traumatized population. However, rather than focusing solely on distress, the concept of posttraumatic growth (PTG) suggests that positive psychological changes may occur after experiencing trauma.
This study aims to empirically test the relationships between psychological well-being and constructs of proposed innovative "axiopsychological model" of posttraumatic growth (PTG). The model posits that value transformations serve as the primary driving force for growth after traumatic experience, where resilience, coping, and self-efficacy act as psychological resources supporting PTG. In combination with professional environment factors this process may lead to the ultimate outcome: psychological and professional well-being.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 214 Ukrainian practicing psychologists working during the war. The research utilized a set of psychodiagnostic tools, including Portrait of Values Questionnaire (PVQ), Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI), Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), Self-Efficacy Scale, Professional quality of life Questionnaire (ProQOL), Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-X), and Psychological Well-being – Posttraumatic Changes Questionnaire (PWB-PTCQ). Data were analyzed using correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis with bootstrapping corrections.
The scale “Psychological well-being as a result of posttraumatic changes” demonstrated numerous statistically significant correlations with all key variables of the study. The first regression model, which included 8 coping strategy scales and a resilience scale as predictors, turned out to be statistically significant in predicting the overall level of psychological well-being: F (9, 204) = 4.604 (p < 0.001). Further analysis of individual regression coefficients showed that the most significant unique predictor of psychological well-being is "Cognitive restructuring" strategy (B = 2.142, SE = 0.022, CI [0.887 – 3.395], p = 0.001). The second regression model, which included 3 scales of professional quality of life (“Compassion satisfaction”, “Burnout”, “Secondary trauma”) and “Self-efficacy” scale as predictors, also turned out to be statistically significant in predicting the overall level of psychological well-being of practicing psychologists: F (4, 209) = 7.578 (p < 0.001). The most significant predictors of psychological well-being in this regression model were “Compassion satisfaction” (B = 0.22, SE = 0.087, CI [0.056 – 0.403], p = 0.008), and “Self-efficacy” (B = 0.228, SE = 0.114, CI [-0.011 – 0.437], p = 0.047).
Psychological well-being may act as a unifying phenomenon around which key aspects of axiopsychological model of PTG are integrated. At the same time, it may be considered as the final destination in the dynamics of personal and professional growth after trauma. Practicing psychologist can successfully reach this point due to the effective rethinking and finding new meanings of experienced crisis (cognitive restructuring), as well as feeling pleasure from helping others (compassion satisfaction), and belief in their ability to cope with traumatic events in the future (self-efficacy).
