Enabling resilience on the job – what works?Gaynor ParkinPsychology @ Victoria
OverviewDefining resiliencePrevious researchWhat promotes resilience?Current studyEarly trends and practice
Psychological resilienceAbility to adapt and recover
well after stress, adversity or change
“Bouncing back”
Knowledge from previous researchChild developmentTrauma – post traumatic
growthNeurosciencePositive psychology
Factors that promote resilienceIndividualWhanau/FamilyTeam/organisationalCommunity
Evidence to datePhysical fitness and recovery
– role of stress hormonesMeditation/MindfulnessEmotion regulation skillsExperiencing positive
emotions
Evidence to dateCognitive flexibilityRealistic optimismProblem solving skillsConnectedness
Current study(Thanks MSI R&D $)!Resilience skills as building
blocksTool kitEmphasis on practice
Current studyFace-to-face vs elearningDifferent conditions in face-to-
faceIndividual vs team elearning6 organisations participating
Transfer of learning What works?Testing variety of tools to
reinforce learning and support practice
Email, SMS, elearningGroup follow up
Psychometric measures The Gratitude Questionnaire (McCullough, Emmons
& Tsang, 2002) . Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) Lyubomirsky, S.,
& Lepper, H. S. (1999), The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS),Pavot, W.
G., Diener, E., Colvin, C. R., & Sandvik, E. (1991,. Flourishing Scale, Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W.,
Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D., Oishi, S., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2009).
Percieved Stress Scale (PSS), Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., and Mermelstein, R. (1983).
The meaning in life questionnaire, Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006)
Brief Mindfulness Measure , Adapted from: Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006),
Work and Well-Being Survey (UWES), Schaufeli, W.B., Bakker, A.B. & Salanova, M. (2006),
Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale Conner, K. M., & Davidson, J. R. T. (2003)
Life Orientation Test Revised ,Scheier, M., Carver, C., & Bridges, M. (1994)
Adult Coping Scale (ACS), Jose, P.E. & Huntsinger, C.S. (2005),
Training modules 1-4Stress – mind-emotion-body
responsesResilience – from
psychological researchPhysical wellbeingFlexible thinking
Training modules 5-8OptimismStrong relationshipsEmotion regulation and positive
emotionRelaxation and mindfulness tools Tools from Positive Psychology
Our observationsTherapeutic group effectRoad map for changeBroaden and Build in action
Participant feedbackRequest for more follow upHelpful to understand science
behind toolsMindfulness practice and
flexible thinking rated highly
Participant feedbackPost training – 1 week, 3,6, 12
monthsI have put the skills into
practiceHow?
Participant feedbackHas the training helped improve
your resilience?Health?Performance at work?Coping with stress at work/homeRelationships with others
Early trendsHigh levels poor health, stress
and distressHighly variable work and
wellbeing responsesLow scores on concentration and
focusHigh support: flourishing
Early trendsImprovements in:Concentration and focusCognitive flexibilityOptimismActive problem solving
Early trendsFace-to-face training slightly
ahead No differences (yet) types of
follow upFollow up keeping scores
more constant
Practice implicationsCollaboration with leadership
teamsHow is “resilience” perceived?Integrate don’t separate
performance and wellbeing initiatives.
Implications for practice:Senior leadership engagementFrameworks to support practiceOngoing practiceOngoing reviewReminders are useful
Advice welcome!
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