Ukrainian Volunteers – New Generation of Social Workers. Problems and Perspectives

Olena Bohucharova

doi:10.18290/rt20671-3

Olena Bohucharova Luhansk State University of Internal Affairs named after E.O. Didorenkо

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rt20671-3

Keywords: volunteers, “the Dark triad”, emotional burnout, well-being

Abstract

The charity activity in warring Ukrainian society stipulated the interest to the social work volunteer’s problem. Substantial changes also happened in the world psychology and social work: positive health psychology and positive approach to social work appeared; “emotional revolution” proceeds in the field of professional labor, the positive functioning of personality and to his/her well-being. Such initiatives and orientation were the methodological basis of the conducted research.

The sample of the research included 100 Ukrainian paramilitary volunteers. The interconnections between, the one side, the level of the emotional burnout, “the Dark triad” personality traits and, the another side, subjective and psychological well-being have been examined.

It turned out that the greater part of the tested persons is “within the limits of the norm” of burnout, but only in the first and second phases of emotional burnout – “tension” and “exhaustion”. However the number of volunteers with high positive personality traits and low negative ones as “the Dark Triad” and vice versa low positive and high negative – in the third phase of emotional burnout – “resistance” in 1,5 times higher (64 / 42%) accordingly. Paradoxical reverse interconnection was also found out high indexes of “the Dark Triad” and low – emotional burnout, positive connection of narcissism with the level of subjective well-being. The only fact that distinguishes two groups of volunteers is the best indexes of psychological well-being and conscientious as personality trait (Big-Five).

These data testify to the greater vulnerability for the negative consequences of burnout of high moral, “good” volunteers (low “Dark Triad”).

The received results compel researchers to think: Does it really mean that “to be a best” paramilitary volunteer is not to have strong health but have significant level of emotional and occupational burnout in the conditions of war?

Author Biography

Olena Bohucharova, Luhansk State University of Internal Affairs named after E.O. Didorenkо

Olena Bohucharova, D.Sc. in Psychology, Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of Social-and-Humanitarian Disciplines and Professional Psychology, Luhansk State University of Internal Affairs named after E.O. Didorenkо, Ukraine

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