Professional identity and hardiness of future psychologists before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction The impact of the pandemic is prolonged, changing people's attitudes towards the meaning of relationships, life and professional activities. Future psychologists found themselves in a difficult situation during the pandemic: it was assumed that they would be able to show resilience and support their loved ones, to find new meaning in the profession they were acquiring. But in reality, it turned out that the students themselves needed psychological support, many of them showed disappointment in the profession.Purpose setting. The purpose of this study is to assess the parameters of professional identity and resilience before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The materials of two empirical studies obtained on a sample of students (future psychologists) of different courses at the Pacific State University before and after the COVID-19 pandemic are presented. The 2019 study (N = 78) included respondents aged 17 to 25 (M = 19.8; SD = 0.65), in the 2022 study (N = 78) ‒ aged 17 to 25 (M = 20.3; SD = 0.45).Methodology and methods of the study. The following methods were applied: hardiness survey (adapted by D. A. Leontiev, E. I. Rasskazova), professional readiness method (A. P. Chernyavskaya); questionnaire of professional identity of students – future psychologists (U. S. Rodygina).Results. The analysis of correlations in two different groups allowed us to identify certain specificity of resilience in relation to professional identity before and after the pandemic. So, before the pandemic, autonomy of choice and risk taking were positively related, a passive position in acquiring a profession was negatively related to other parameters of resilience. After the pandemic, a dual nature of relationships was found, which clearly delineated students who remain in the profession and those who passively continue to study, and the indicator of involvement in life is positively associated with an active strategy and positive emotions for the future profession. The main differences among students, confirmed statistically, before and after the pandemic were in the parameters «Negative emotions associated with the dissatisfaction of a person's needs in this profession» and «Risk acceptance».Conclusion. These differences and the nature of correlations indicate a rethinking of their positions in the acquired profession and a change in the possibility of taking risks in a difficult situation. The results can be used in the training of future psychologists, including personal growth trainings and self-help groups.