Ukrainian Journal Health of Woman. 2026. 2(183): 97-107. doi: 10.15574/HW.2026.2(183).97107
Riakhovska T. L., Ivanova Ye. O., Savelieva I. V., Maksymova N. Yr., Trofimova D. O.
Kyiv Institute of Modern Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ukraine

For citation: Riakhovska TL, Ivanova YeO, Savelieva IV, Maksymova NYr, Trofimova DO. (2026). Social and psychological features of professional burnout of women working in the psychological field. Ukrainian Journal Health of Woman. 2(183): 97-107. doi: 10.15574/HW.2026.2(183).97107
Article received: Jan 02, 2026. Accepted for publication: Mar 22, 2026.

The relevance of the problem of professional burnout among women working in the field of psychology is due to the growing psycho-emotional load on representatives of helping professions, especially in the context of martial law in Ukraine. There is a need to review existing models of resilience and approaches to the prevention of burnout.
Aim – to conduct a theoretical analysis of scientific sources that characterize the social and psychological features of professional burnout of women working in the psychological field.
Research into the evolution of the concept of «burnout» allows us to recognize this phenomenon as an official professional phenomenon. The article argues that the profession of a psychologist is accompanied by unique risks (intense emotional interactions, vicarious traumatization and ethical responsibility for the well-being of clients). In conditions of martial law, an important role is played by systematic supervision and avoidance of professional isolation to reduce the risks of depersonalization and emotional exhaustion. The gender aspect of the problem is considered in the context of socio-psychological pressure on women psychologists who are forced to combine professional activity with the roles of mother and wife. For women working in the psychological field, there is a phenomenon of «double burden» and interrole conflicts. In combination with insufficient social support in Ukraine, this leads to a significant spread of professional burnout.
The process of building individual stress resistance of female psychologists requires the use of specific self-regulation tools (cognitive restructuring, grounding techniques, progressive muscle relaxation and emotional unloading techniques). In professional burnout, personal therapy and supervision are important as integral components of professional hygiene. It is necessary to implement the principles of self-compassion and a caring attitude to one’s own resources as the basis of a psychologist’s professional ethics, as an assurance of the stability of the entire system of psychological assistance in conditions of professional burnout.
The authors declare the absence of a conflict of interest.
Keywords: professional burnout, female psychologists, emotional exhaustion, secondary traumatization, supervision, self-regulation, gender stereotypes, vicarious trauma, psychoprophylaxis.

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