Psychological Safety of Law Enforcement Officers in Extreme Situations

Abstract

<p style="text-align: justify;">The article is devoted to the study of the psychological safety of individuals exposed to extreme conditions, with a particular focus on the likelihood of maintaining health and performance after exposure to traumatic factors. The problem, particularly in relation to employees of internal affairs bodies operating under special conditions, has not been sufficiently studied. The purpose of the study is to explore the components of psychological safety that are interrelated with post-traumatic symptoms in employees of internal affairs agencies. Comparative and correlation analyses were used for this study, with the comparison criterion being the presence of combat experience among employees. The empirical base of the study consists of two groups: 38 employees with combat experience and 69 employees without such experience. The theoretical positions are supported by the empirical part of the study, which confirms the existence of a relationship between the nature of post-traumatic reactions and components of psychological safety. The severity of post-traumatic symptoms in employees of internal affairs bodies serving in special conditions depends on the formation of an individual system of self-regulation, adaptability, and a sense of subjective emotional comfort.</p>