Resilience Research

A Study on the Identification of Resilience: How Social Work Students at the University of Wyoming Recognize Resilience in Themselves

by

Autumn Kiser, MSW StudentUniversity of Wyoming

How I Became Interested in the Topic of Resilience

In in my life, I have survived many adversities. When I was eight years old, my mother passed away and I was separated from my siblings. I was placed in a family where I was a victim of child abuse. I have lived through suicide attempts, domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, and being single parent in a dehumanizing welfare system.

The social workers I encountered in my childhood and young adulthood only focused on what was WRONG with me.

Why I Chose to Study Resilience

In my undergraduate work I was trained to assess problems.

The assessment skills of professional social workers are often “one-dimensional, preoccupied with deficits and pathology” (Gilligan, 2004, p. 97).

When I returned to school to work on a graduate degree, I decided I wanted be a social worker who focuses on capabilities.

So I chose to study resilience.

Literature Review

Resilience is a key element for succeeding in life (Hage, Romano, Conyne, Kenny, Matthews, Schwartz, & Waldo, 2007).

“Every person has the potential to face, overcome, and even grow through adversity” (Baruch & Stutman, 2003, p. 32).

Literature Review

Understanding resilience may be a core element in building strengths and resources (Smith, 2006).

Social workers’ awareness of resilience could have a positive affect on their involvement with the people they serve (McMurray, Connolly, Preston-Shoot, & Wigley, 2008).

On the other hand, a lack of understanding of resilience may have a negative influence on the quality of service provision (McMurray, et al., 2008).

Literature Review

Resilient Attributes were defined as naturally occurring characteristics that result in growth subsequent to adverse experiences (Bell, 2001; Connor & Davidson, 2003)

Resilient Strengths were considered attainable internal qualities as well as external resources that foster resilience for overcoming adversity (Middlemiss, 2005; Richardson, 2002; Steinhardt, & Dolbier, 2008).

Methodology

Designing an Assessment Instrument

Choosing a Target Population

Method of Data Collection

Measures and Variables

Methodology

Main Research QuestionAre social work students aware of resilience concepts and are they able to identify their own resilience?

Guiding Principles UW Social work students’ awareness of resilient attributes within themselves UW social work students’ perception of resilient strengths in their own life UW Social work students’ familiarity with resilience concepts

ResultsResili

ent Attributes

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Resilient Assets

Freq

uenci

es

Results

Pursue p

sychologic

al gro

wth

Expan

d one's w

orld vi

ew

Enga

ge in

continuous le

arning

Develo

p mindfulness

skills

Maintai

n a co

nnection w

ith natu

re

Medita

tion or quieti

ng exe

rcises

Prayer

Reflecti

on0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

Not at all

Rarely

Once a week

2 or 3 times a week

Almost Daily

Resi

lien

t S

treng

ths

Results

Resilient Strengths 0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

External resources

ResultsResilie

nce Concepts

Adjustment following traumatic event(s)

What is the outcome of Resilience?

42.9% 25.7% 31.4%

Usually feel weaker

Recuperate to normal

functioning

Grown stronger

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

Adjustment following traumatic event(s)

ResultsResilie

nce Concepts

Stro

ngly

Agr

ee

Agree

Disagr

ee

Stro

ngly

Disa

gree

No op

inio

n0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

There are teachable ac-tivities that can foster the development of re-silience

true false0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Resilience is natural part of being humanA network of positive social supports builds resilience

Discussion

Guiding Principle UW Social work students’ awareness of

resilient attributes within themselves

The majority of social work students in this sample were able to identify their own resilient attributes such as being committed, having a sense of humor, as well as having hope, determination, and accountability.

Discussion

Guiding Principle UW social work students’ perception of resilient strengths in their own life

Several of social work students in this sample were able to identify resilient strengths such as having a network of support, engaging in self-care, believing in their abilities, plus feeling their life has meaning and is fulfilling.

Discussion

Guiding Principle UW Social work students’ familiarity with

resilience concepts

Many of the students were fairly familiar with resilience concepts such as fostering resilience through teachable activities and building positive social supports.

Discussion

What I learned:

The results of the study seemed to indicate that the social work students do indeed have a basic understanding of resilience and are able to identify their own resilience.

Another discovery was that social work students seem to have a strong interest in learning about resilience.

Discussion

Why I believe this study matters:

Much of the literature supports the idea of that fostering resilience can be instrumental in increasing the efficacy of social work practice.

Plus, services that are strength-based have the potential for not only benefiting clients but also service providers.

DiscussionWhy I believe this study matters:

“A highly demanding and frantic schedule initiated upon entering graduate school and continued throughout professional training can perpetuate a lifestyle that is imbalanced and consuming” (Valente & Marotta2005, p. 68).

Social work practice can be extremely demanding especially for those working for public agencies (Schwartz, Tiamiyu, & Dwyer, 2007).

The risk of burnout in the field of social work could be reduced if students were provided opportunities to learn about resilience (Ngai & Cheung, 2009).

Limitations of the Study

Study was conducted during summers session Low response rate Many students chose not to participate

Convenience sample was used The survey was pretested by only one person

ReferencesBaruch, R., & Stutman, S. (2003). The yin and yang of resilience. In Grotberg, E. H. (Ed.), Resilience for

today: Gaining strength from adversity (pp. 31-52). Westport, CT; Praeger Publishers.Bell, C. C. (2001). Cultivating resiliency in youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 29(5), 375-381.Connor, K. M., & Davidson, J. R.T. (2003). Development of a new resilience scale: The Conner-Davidson

resilience scale (CD-RISC). Depression and Anxiety, (18), 76–82.Gilligan, R. (2004). Promoting resilience in child and family social work: Issues for social work practice,

education and policy. Social Work Education 23(1), 93-104.Hage, S. M., Romano, J. L., Conyne, R. K., Kenny, M., Matthews, C., Schwartz, J. P., & Waldo M. (2007). Best

practice guidelines on prevention practice, research, training, and social advocacy for psychologists. The Counseling Psychologist 35(4), 493-566.

McMurray, I., Connolly, H., Preston-Shoot, M., & Wigley, V. (2008). Constructing resilience: Social workers’ understandings and practice. Health and Social Care in the Community, 16(3), 299–309. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2008.00778.x

Middlemiss, W. (2005). Prevention and intervention: Using resiliency-based multi-setting approaches and a process-orientation. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 22(1), 85-103.

Ngai, S. S. Y., & Cheung, C. K. (2009). Idealism, altruism, career orientation, and emotional exhaustion among social work undergraduates. Journal of Social Work Education, 45(1), 105-120.

Richardson, G. E. (2002). The metatheory of resilience and resiliency. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(3), 307-321.

Schwartz, R. H., Tiamiyu, M. F., & Dwyer, D. J. (2007). Social worker hope and perceived burnout: The effects of age, years in practice, and setting. Administration in Social Work, 31(4), 103-119

Smith E. J. (2006). The strength-based counseling model. The Counseling Psychologist 34(1), 13-79.Steinhardt, M., & Dolbier, C. (2008). Evaluation of a resilience intervention to enhance coping strategies

and protective factors and decrease symptomatology. Journal of American College Health, 56(4), 445-553.

Valente, V., & Marotta, M. (2005). The impact of yoga on the professional and personal life of the psychotherapist. Contemporary Family Therapy 27(1), 65-80. doi: 10.1007/s10591-004-1971-4