RECOVERY STRATEGIES AS A FACTOR IN PREVENTING PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT AMONG FUTURE PSYCHOLOGISTS

Abstract

Various strategies can be applied to prevent professional burnout (such as improving sleep quality, developing emotional intelligence, practicing mindfulness, or engaging in regular physical activity). However, there is no single universal recovery strategy. Effective recovery from work-related stress is facilitated not by specific types of activity but by the practice of psychological detachment from work-related thoughts during leisure time and focusing on desired resource-based activities, the choice of which depends on individual characteristics of employees. The results of the empirical study showed that most future psychologists prefer recovery strategies related to physiology and embodiment (sleep, nutrition, physical activity, or relaxation). The factor analysis of the associative experiment data revealed only minor differences in the choice of recovery strategies between students focused solely on academic activities and those who combine study with work. In both groups, the dominant factor integrates self-realization, creative, and bodily practices. The main way to prevent burnout among students lies in proactive engagement in activities that bring meaning and development rather than in passive rest. This factor is considerably stronger among students who combine work and study (29% of variance) compared to those who only study (18%), which may indicate a greater need for consciously organized resource recovery under the conditions of dual load (study and work). Students combining study and work are less inclined to use socially expressive forms of recovery, preferring individualized, cognitive-introverted strategies. They minimize social activities (communication, entertainment), replacing them with deep inner focus (reading, introspection), which allows them to maintain internal balance under high external demands. Overall, the recovery strategies reported by respondents demonstrate a high level of differentiation and individualization, which is crucial for developing effective programs for professional burnout prevention.