GENDER AND DEPLOYMENT MODALITIES OF MILITARY PERSONNEL’S PROFESSIONAL RESILIENCE

Abstract

In the context of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the need to study psychological resources that ensure the effective functioning of military personnel under combat conditions is growing. One of the key resources is professional resilience – a multidimensional construct reflecting an individual’s ability to maintain professional effectiveness and personal integrity under stress, crisis, and extreme pressure. Professional resilience encompasses cognitive, motivational, emotional, and social components that interact during service-related adaptation. Considering the complex psychological dynamics of modern warfare, it is important to examine not only the overall level of resilience but also the factors influencing its variability, such as gender differences and the location of military deployment (urban vs. peripheral settings). The aim of the study is to examine the characteristics of professional resilience among military personnel performing tasks in combat zones, taking into account gender and location factors. The study involved 47 military personnel (39 men and 8 women), with 22 stationed in urban areas and 25 in regional areas. The Professional Resilience Questionnaire developed by O. Kokun was used to assess overall resilience and its seven components.The findings indicate that female service members demonstrate higher overall resilience and a stronger professional component, possibly due to a stronger orientation toward responsibility, stability, and adaptive coping strategies.In contrast, male participants showed greater motivation and readiness to face professional challenges. As for deployment location, those stationed in regional (non-urban) areas reported higher emotional resilience, social cohesion, and general professional resilience compared to those based in urban areas. This may be linked to reduced information overload, closer interpersonal ties, and stronger perceived support in less urbanized environments.