INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AS A TOOL FOR PREVENTING PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT AMONG PUBLIC SERVANTS

Abstract

Introduction. The full-scale war and the introduction of martial law in Ukraine have significantly transformed the functioning of state authorities and local self-government bodies. Public servants have found themselves under constant psychological and emotional pressure, as traditional professional responsibilities have been supplemented by new functions related to crisis management, coordination of humanitarian assistance, support for internally displaced persons, emergency response, evacuation processes, and the restoration of critical infrastructure. Staff shortages, the lack of opportunities for adequate rest, and continuous emotional strain have created conditions conducive to professional burnout. Under such circumstances, the issue of preventing professional burnout extends beyond the scope of individual psychological support and becomes an important task of public administration.

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to study and improve internal communications within public administration bodies not merely as a means of information exchange, but as a tool for enhancing team effectiveness and preventing and mitigating professional burnout among public servants.

Materials and Methods. The research materials include: 1) analytical reports of public authorities, particularly those of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service; 2) scientific publications of Ukrainian and foreign researchers on public administration, organizational communication processes, and approaches to preventing professional burnout.

To achieve the research objective, a combination of general scientific and specialized methods was applied. A systems approach and structural-functional analysis were used to examine internal communications in public authorities as an integrated system ensuring institutional resilience. A sociological method was employed through a survey of public servants using an adapted version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) developed by C. Maslach. Comparative analysis was applied to compare respondents’ subjective assessments with existing institutional communication regulations, including the presence or absence of “digital hygiene” rules and the degree of hierarchy in information flows. Statistical data processing methods were used to interpret the survey findings, identify patterns, and formulate generalized conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the proposed measures.

Results. The article investigates the role of internal communications as a tool for preventing professional burnout among public servants under conditions of increased organizational and psycho-emotional pressure. Based on the methodology developed by Christina Maslach, the study substantiates the relationship between the quality of internal organizational communication, the level of emotional exhaustion, and the professional performance of employees. The generalization of research findings from the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service made it possible to identify the key factors contributing to professional burnout within the public service system, including information overload, insufficient feedback, communication isolation, and emotional tension under martial law conditions. A survey of public servants representing different management levels was conducted, allowing the formulation of practical recommendations aimed at overcoming or minimizing the identified problems. The findings demonstrate that effective internal communications serve as a critical component of organizational resilience in public administration, contributing to the creation of a psychologically safe environment, strengthening trust, increasing staff engagement, and improving the professional performance of public servants. The author proposes an approach according to which professional burnout should be considered not only as an individual employee problem, but also as an indicator of communication dysfunctions and managerial culture within public authorities. The study substantiates the expediency of implementing flexible communication practices, wellbeing approaches, and psychological recovery practices within public authorities.

Discussion. Further research should focus on improving communication policy in public administration, particularly by drawing attention to the development of digital hygiene skills within teams and the integration of wellbeing approaches into the human capital management system of the public service. Of particular relevance is the study of the relationship between internal communications, organizational resilience, and the psychological safety of personnel under prolonged crisis conditions. Special attention should also be given to the assumption that professional burnout may occur regardless of salary level, since emotional exhaustion is often determined not only by material factors, but also by the quality of managerial culture, internal communication, employee support, and the psychological climate within an organization. This assumption requires further empirical verification and may become a separate area of scientific inquiry in public administration and human capital management.