Individual Differences in Risk and Protective Factors: The Role of Self-Compassion Components among Emergency...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Occupational Health
• Resilience Research

Background:

• High-stress professions, such as rescue work, demand robust psychological well-being and job performance.
• Individual differences in protective and risk factors significantly influence worker outcomes under duress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate individual differences in protective and risk factors among rescue workers (RWs).
• To identify distinct psychological profiles to optimize well-being and job performance in high-stress conditions.
• To explore the role of self-compassion and job roles in differentiating these profiles.

Main Methods:

• A person-centered approach was employed to analyze psychological metrics.
• Two distinct profiles were identified: adaptively resilient and maladaptively vulnerable.
• Self-compassion and job roles (drivers vs. team members) were examined as external criteria.

Main Results:

• The adaptively resilient profile was characterized by positive traits and coping mechanisms, while the maladaptively vulnerable profile showed self-judgment, isolation, and emotional over-identification.
• Maladaptively vulnerable individuals exhibited lower self-compassion scores.
• Drivers showed a higher prevalence of adaptive resilience compared to team members, who reported lower self-compassion.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing individual differences in resilience and vulnerability is crucial for mental health in high-stress professions.
• Tailored interventions, particularly those enhancing self-compassion, are recommended for RWs requiring specialized support.
• This research provides a deeper understanding of resilience and vulnerability, informing targeted support strategies for rescue workers.