Social workers, resilience, positive emotions and optimism

Abstract

Literature on stress and social work emphasises the importance of the structural and organisational context for social work. Less attention has been given to differences between social workers that enable them to deal with demands and find satisfaction and rewards in their work. Literature drawn from psychology can offer some guidance to social workers, focusing on resilience, positive emotion and optimism. A great deal has been written about resilience, children and young people; much less about resilience, adults and social workers. Resilience is an adaptive state and personality trait evident in many people, including social workers, but it is influenced by many variables, such as culture. Positive emotions amidst negative events are further important elements in the psychological resilience of, and coping by, social workers. Three kinds of coping relating to positive affect have been identified: positive appraisal, goal-directed/problemfocused work and the infusion of ordinary events with meaning. Their implications for social work are explored. Optimism is another important personality difference that is significant in social workers' helping endeavours. Recent research on, and criticisms of, optimism are noted. There are important implications related to resilience, positive emotions and optimism for the selection of social work students, the development of social workers' knowledge and understanding of these topics, and for the support of social workers in their daily work.

Witnessing resilience: resilience of child protection workers in Queensland

“…Many consider resilience as the normal response to adversity for most individuals (Bonanno, 2004;Collins, 2007;Jaffee et al, 2007;Luthar et al, 2000a). As indicated by this focus on positive outcomes resilience is positioned within positive psychology, and is informed by strengths perspectives (Greene, 2002a).…”

“…While risk factors of distress are relatively well understood, and there is increasing understanding regarding the factors that contribute to resilience, the processes and experiences that support resilience are unclear. Debate continues regarding contributions of factors of personality (such as hardiness, optimism, and adaptability) (Bonnano, 2004;Luthar et al, 2000a;Robinson, 2000) and contextual influences (such as social support) (Long & Kahn, 1993;Banonno, 2004;Collins, 2007;DuMont, Widom, & Czaja, 2007), or the significance of the process of interactions between the individual and their context (Jaffee et al, 2007;Lemay & Ghazal, 2001). Ongoing debate on the nature and processes of resilience, and the inability to easily measure it (Mohaupt, 2008) suggests further research is required to enhance current understandings of resilience.…”

“…Whilst adverse experiences of CPW have primarily been considered from a deficit approach, some researchers have recognised the potential for resilience in CPW and other social workers (Adamson, Beddoe & Davys, 2009;Collins, 2007). Figley (2002) discusses the potential for compassion satisfaction, with this described as a sense of getting pleasure from helping others, and making a positive contribution to society (Osofsky, Putnam, &Lederman, 2008, p. 95), andBell (2003, p. 514) argues that a strengths perspective can inform personal and organisational strategies and resources that support resilience.…”

“…Commonly identified personal attributes characteristic of resilience are optimism, hardiness, flexibility and openness (Collins, 2007;Maddi & Khoshaba, 2005). Participant views of resilient individuals, while indicating some similarity with these attributes, also identified the relevance of the specific context of child protection, and the complexity of the role.…”

“…Similar to positive psychology, the use of strengths-based perspectives is common in social work, and recognises the potential for resilience (Grant & Cadell, 2009;Gray, 2011;Oko, 2006;Scerra, 2012). As this study is being undertaken through a social work lens, with participants drawn from human services, and seeks to consider CPW from an alternative viewpoint to traditional deficit approaches, it is appropriate to consider the relevance of strengths perspectives in developing an understanding of resilience (Collins, 2007(Collins, , 2008Scerra, 2012).…”