Psychological Burnout and Its Relationship with Psychological Resilience among Diplomatic Staff

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between psychological burnout and psychological resilience among diplomatic personnel a professional group attracting growing interest within occupational psychology and organizational health literature, yet remaining severely under-documented in the Arab context. The research addresses a core problem: diplomats face complex, multidimensional stressors, including continuous geographic mobility, frequent cultural adaptation, heavy negotiating and political burdens, and family isolation resulting from prolonged overseas assignments, all of which place them in constant confrontation with emotional exhaustion factors. This study aimed to investigate the nature of the correlation between psychological burnout across its three dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment) and psychological resilience among a purposive sample of 130 diplomats. Utilizing a descriptive correlational design, the study revealed a statistically significant negative correlation between psychological resilience and psychological burnout. Furthermore, the findings indicate that psychological resilience serves an effective protective function, preventing chronic occupational stress from escalating into full burnout. This study contributes to bridging a clear research gap in the Arab literature concerning the mental health of diplomatic personnel and recommends the implementation of institutional intervention programs aimed at enhancing the internal psychological resources of this cohort.