enabling resilience on the job – what works?

Enabling resilience on the job – what works?Gaynor ParkinPsychology @ Victoria

gaynor.parkin@vuw.ac.nz

OverviewDefining resiliencePrevious researchWhat promotes resilience?Current studyEarly trends and practice

implicationsgaynor.parkin@vuw.ac.nz

gaynor.parkin@vuw.ac.nz

Psychological resilienceAbility to adapt and recover

well after stress, adversity or change

“Bouncing back”

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Knowledge from previous researchChild developmentTrauma – post traumatic

growthNeurosciencePositive psychology

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Factors that promote resilienceIndividualWhanau/FamilyTeam/organisationalCommunity

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Evidence to datePhysical fitness and recovery

– role of stress hormonesMeditation/MindfulnessEmotion regulation skillsExperiencing positive

emotions

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Evidence to dateCognitive flexibilityRealistic optimismProblem solving skillsConnectedness

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Current study(Thanks MSI R&D $)!Resilience skills as building

blocksTool kitEmphasis on practice

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Current studyFace-to-face vs elearningDifferent conditions in face-to-

faceIndividual vs team elearning6 organisations participating

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Transfer of learning What works?Testing variety of tools to

reinforce learning and support practice

Email, SMS, elearningGroup follow up

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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).

gaynor.parkin@vuw.ac.nz

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),

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Measures of performanceTricky!Each organisation has

different measures

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Training groupsMaximum 15 participantsFacilitated by Clinical

Psychologists

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Training modules 1-4Stress – mind-emotion-body

responsesResilience – from

psychological researchPhysical wellbeingFlexible thinking

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Training modules 5-8OptimismStrong relationshipsEmotion regulation and positive

emotionRelaxation and mindfulness tools Tools from Positive Psychology

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Our observationsTherapeutic group effectRoad map for changeBroaden and Build in action

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Participant feedbackRequest for more follow upHelpful to understand science

behind toolsMindfulness practice and

flexible thinking rated highly

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Participant feedbackPost training – 1 week, 3,6, 12

monthsI have put the skills into

practiceHow?

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Participant feedbackHas the training helped improve

your resilience?Health?Performance at work?Coping with stress at work/homeRelationships with others

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Early trendsHigh levels poor health, stress

and distressHighly variable work and

wellbeing responsesLow scores on concentration and

focusHigh support: flourishing

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Early trendsImprovements in:Concentration and focusCognitive flexibilityOptimismActive problem solving

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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.

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gaynor.parkin@vuw.ac.nz

Implications for practice:Senior leadership engagementFrameworks to support practiceOngoing practiceOngoing reviewReminders are useful

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Advice welcome!