PSYCHOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND BARRIERS IN THE INTERACTION OF MEDICAL STAFF WITH ADOLESCENTS WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE: AN EMPIRICAL TYPOLOGY OF MODELS

Abstract

The aim of the study was to empirically test a theoretically grounded typology of interaction models employed by medical staff with adolescents after a suicide attempt, and to establish the relationship between the psychological resources and barriers of such interaction. Research methods. Eighty-four medical professionals from departments admitting adolescents after suicide attempts were examined using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, an emotional intelligence measure, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, an occupational self-efficacy questionnaire, the Brief-COPE, and an author-designed survey of professional attitudes. Data were processed in SPSS 27.0. Results. High emotional exhaustion was found in 47.62% of respondents, high trait anxiety in 53.57%, and low emotional intelligence in 75.00%. The psychological potential proved asymmetric: resources directed towards the patient were preserved, whereas resources directed towards the self were deficient. Staff with high and moderate-to-low exhaustion differed across all barrier measures and across none of the resource measures. Empathic concern was inversely related to depersonalisation (ρ = −0.54) and positively related to anxiety (ρ = 0.47). Four types of interaction models were identified. Conclusions. Burnout among medical staff results from the accumulation of barriers rather than from a lack of resources. Resources and barriers constitute two independent axes (ρ = 0.17; p > 0.05); consequently, alongside the theoretically predicted empathic-supportive, formally-distanced and stigmatising models, a strained-compensated type exists that combines the highest resources with high barriers and requires separate consideration when planning psychological support.