Zadyraiko A. O. Atanova M. Yu., Kovalenko V. V.

Oles Honchar Dnipropetrovsk National University, Ukraine

CONNECTION BETWEEN MEDICAL WORKERS’ LEVEL OF PERFECTIONISM AND THEIR CHOICE OF COPING – STRATEGIES

Formulation of the problem.  The modern era is characterized by rapid life development, the presence of highly volatile system of norms and values. So unpredictableness and uncontrollness lead to a cult of perfection and success. On the one hand, it contributes to perfectionism (normal or abnormal level) through the creation of individual illusory idea of the omnipotence and the opportunity to follow in all situations only by ultra high standards. On the other hand, such a characteristic as spontaneity causes more stresses, that lead to a temporary disadaptation, which personality overcomes using a variety of coping – strategies. Within this problem there is a steady scientific interest to extreme professions that are characterized by tension, increased responsibilities and lots of duties. Being in constant stress makes it impossible to complete professional duties and therefore it influences on professional competence of a specialist. In this case, the medical professional work is not an exception. Therefore the problem of research connection of perfectionism of medical staff with a choice of coping − strategies and the importance of its influence as a factor of professional activity are extremely important [1; 2].

The  object  of the research is the level of perfectionism of a medical worker. The  subject  is the connection between levels of perfectionism medical staff and a choice of behavioral coping − strategies. The  aim  of this article is theoretical and empirical analysis of the presence of significant connections.

Organization of empirical research.  While researching the connection between the perfectionism and choices behavioral coping − strategies we put forward the following empirical hypothesis:

1. If a medical worker has an abnormal level of perfectionism, he tends to use the escape − avoidance strategy actively;

2. If a medical worker has a normal level of perfectionism, he tends to use the positive revaluation strategy actively;

3. If a medical worker has a normal level of perfectionism, he tends to use the planning solution strategy actively.

So the empirical research consisted of passing questionnaires by respondents. Fifty workers of the departments of surgery, intensive care and thoracic department of Dnipropetrovsk city hospital № 16 were our respondents. To confirm the hypothesis about the connection between levels of perfectionism of a medical worker and a choice of behavioral coping − strategies the following  methods  were used:

1. «Coping − test» R. Lazarus,

2. «Indicator of coping − strategies» J. Amirhan;

3. «Differential test of perfectionism» О. Zolotareva.

The analysis of results.  Analysis of the results was carried out by using the correlation Pearson’s coefficient. All results are summarized in the Table 1.

Table 1. Results of the research

* Correlation is significant on p ≤ 0,05; ** Correlation is significant on p ≤ 0,01;

As we can see from the table above, we obtained the significant connection between levels of perfectionism and coping strategies that confirms the reliability of the hypotheses that were put forward fully. So, 1) medical worker who has an abnormal level of perfectionism tends to use the strategy of escape − avoidance, according to the Lazarus’ coping − test and strategy of escape, according to Amirhan’s questionnaire on significance level (p ≤ 0,05); 2) medical worker who has a normal level of perfectionism tends to use the positive revaluation and planning to solve the problem, according to the Lazarus’ coping − test and strategy of solving the problem, according to Amirhan’s questionnaire on significance level (p ≤ 0,05).

Having analyzed the results of the research we can confirm that medical workers being in increased physical and psychological tension might enforce their own experiences of stressful situations. And as a result medical workers might choice coping strategies according to their level of perfectionism. So personality with a normal level of perfectionism, who experiences less rigidity than a personality with abnormal level of perfectionism, tends to use adaption coping strategies actively.

Conclusion.  The result of theoretical and empirical research of connection between medical workers’ levels of perfectionism and their choice of copying − strategies is a confirmation of existence of connection between these phenomena. Obtained results are extremely important for further development of problem. As the knowledge of existence of connection between level of perfectionism and choice of copying − behaviour enable us to talk about organization of psychopreventive work among medical staff to save their psychological health and professional suitability.

The list of references:

1. Hewitt P. Perfectionism and stress process in psychopathology / ed. by G. Flett, P. Hewitt. –Washington, 2002.

2. Lazarus R. S. Coping theory and research: past, present, and future. Psychosom Med / R. S. Lazarus. – 1993. – May 1. − P. 234−247.