Quality of Life of Clinical Psychologists: Lived Experiences from Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62843/jssr.v6i4.766Keywords:
Clinical Psychologists, Emotional Labor, Professional Well-Being,, Quality of Life, Qualitative ResearchAbstract
Clinical psychologists are in a pressurizing role in the mental health field where they are charged with the long-term responsibility of the psychological well-being of the clients and at the same time they have to deal with the emotional labor, the secondary traumatic stress and organizational demands. Although there is an increasing body of research showing that practitioner well-being is a key determinant of mental health service delivery quality and safety, little empirical research has been done into the lived quality of life (QoL) experiences of clinical psychologists, especially in lower-middle-income country environments. The purpose of the study was to examine the multidimensional determinants of QoL of practicing clinical psychologists with a view considering the interactive role of personal coping resources, professional structures, and socio-cultural environmental and economic determinants. The phenomenological qualitative design was used. Convenient sampling with a purpose identified 20 clinical psychologists, working in hospitals, private clinical practices, and rehabilitation centers and NGOs with experience of at least three years. The information was collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews, and later analyzed using thematic analysis. Seven analytically discrete themes emerged, namely (1) Physical Health and Occupational Well-Being, (2) Emotional Regulation and Psychological Well-Being, (3) Autonomy and Functional Independence, (4) Perceived Support and Social Relationships, (5) Environmental and Financial Conditions, (6) Professional Development, Leisure and overall Quality of Life and (7) Spirituality, Religious Beliefs, and Meaning in Life. The results of this study can contribute in the provision of evidence-based self-care initiatives, supervisory systems, fair workload policies, and culturally sensitive well-being systems for the clinical psychologists.
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