“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” : Professional quality of life in Ukrainian mental health care professionals during the ongoing war

Kurzfassung/Abstract

Mental health professionals working in the context of war face unique and complex issues related to trauma, stress, and mental health. However, little is known about the Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) of these professionals in Ukraine since the Russian invasion. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the levels and possible predictors of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress (STS) among Ukrainian mental health professionals. A sample of 137 Ukrainian mental health professionals completed an online survey about their ProQoL and their attitudes toward evidence-based practice between May 2022 and February 2023. Data were analyzed descriptively and through multiple regression. Participants reported moderate to high levels of compassion satisfaction (M = 40.63, SD = 4.13) and low to moderate levels of burnout (M = 19.74, SD = 3.69) and STS (M = 19.64, SD = 4.32). Attitudes toward evidence-based practice were associated with stronger compassion satisfaction and weaker burnout and STS. While working in the context of ongoing war is intensely stressful, mental health professionals in Ukraine reported favorable levels of ProQoL. Dissemination of evidence-based treatments might help to further improve the well-being of professionals working in contexts of war.