Team Coping:Cross-Level Influence of Team Member Coping Activities on Individual Burnout

Coping with stress has been primarily investigated as an individual-level phenomenon. In work settings, however, an individual’s exposure to demands is often shared with co-workers, and the process of dealing with these demands takes place in the interaction with them. Coping, therefore, may be conceptualized as a multilevel construct. This paper introduces the team coping concept and shows that including coping as a higher-level team property may help explain individual-level outcomes. Specifically, we investigated the effects of exposure to danger during deployment on burnout symptoms in military service members and examined to what extent this relationship was moderated by individual-level and team-level functional coping. We hypothesized that the relationship between individuals’ exposure to danger and burnout is contingent on both. In line with our predictions, we found that service members who were highly exposed to danger, and did not engage in much functional coping, suffered most from burnout symptoms, but only when their teammates did not engage in much functional coping either. When their teammates did engage in much functional coping, the effect of exposure to danger on burnout was buffered. Hence, team members’ coping efforts functioned as a resilience resource for these service members

The Relationship between Resilience Resources and Long-Term Deployment-Related PTSD Symptoms: A Longitudinal Study in Dutch Veterans

Veterans may report PTSD symptoms, years after their deployment. The aim of this study was to examine whether the presence of resilience resources before deployment, and the potential loss of these resources over time, are associated with the risk of PTSD symptoms five years post-deployment. The study focused on Dutch service members, deployed to Afghanistan or the Gulf of Aden. Pre-deployment resilience resources (i.e. coping self-efficacy, team cohesion, and perceived organizational support) were measured in 2012–2013 (n = 786). Five years after deployment a follow-up study (n = 148) measured the same resources as well as PTSD symptoms. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that fewer resources before deployment as well as a post-deployment decline in resources predicted PTSD. Low coping self-efficacy and low perceived organizational support before deployment as well as a decline in these resources over time were significantly related to PTSD symptoms five years post-deployment. This study therefore provides initial support for a relationship between a resource loss process and PTSD symptoms in veterans five years post-deployment

Chronic stressors and burnout in Dutch police officers: Two studies into the complex role of coping self-efficacy

IntroductionBurnout complaints are high for Dutch police officers. According to Hobfoll’s Conservation of Resources theory, resources such as coping self-efficacy can play an important role in the burnout process. The aim of this study was to investigate the buffering effect of coping self-efficacy on burnout, as well as a possible depletion effect of burnout on coping self-efficacy.MethodsAs such, this research consists of two studies namely, a two-wave study (N = 166) and three-wave study (N = 95) on Dutch police officers. They expand on previous research regarding coping resources and police burnout.ResultsBoth studies show that the chronic stressor, work scheduling, was positively associated with burnout. Also, coping self-efficacy weakened the effect of work scheduling (Study 1) and workload (Study 2) on burnout. Moreover, there was a direct negative relationship between burnout and coping self-efficacy.DiscussionThe results indicate that burnout can lead to lower coping resources, initiating a potential cycle of resource loss and burnout. Further investigation into this depletion effect is required to provide police officers and organisations with tools to prevent burnout

Coping with acute stress in the military: The influence of coping style, coping efficacy and appraisal emotions

It is of utmost importance to better understand how professionals in high-risk organizations, such as the military and police, appraise and cope with acute stress situations. The goal of this two-wave study was to investigate the role of two individual characteristics, coping style and coping self-efficacy, for recruits’ appraisal emotions and subsequent coping behavior during a high-stress exercise at the end of a 18-33 week training period. Three different military samples were studied (officer cadets, special infantry and Marine corps recruits, and recruits). Multi-group comparison showed that coping style was directly related to coping behavior. Coping self-efficacy was indirectly related to coping behavior through threat and challenge emotions. Together, these findings provide insights for appraisal research and practice

Coping style development:The role of learning goal orientation and metacognitive awareness

Professionals in high-risk organizations, such as the military, need to develop effective coping styles in order to deal with dangerous and stressful situations. Although most of these organizations already offer programs and interventions aimed at improving employees' coping styles, there is still little research on the predictors of coping style development. This two-wave study examined how goal orientation and metacognitive awareness contribute to coping style development during basic military training. Participants were 235 Dutch military recruits who completed a questionnaire before and after basic training. The results showed that participants with a strong learning goal orientation developed more effective (i.e. more problem-focused coping and less emotion-focused coping) coping styles, and that this effect was mediated by metacognitive awareness. Together, the findings yield theoretical as well as practical implications for organizations that aim to enhance effective coping styles in professionals in high-risk jobs. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd

Training Resilience for High-risk Environments: Towards a Strength-based Approach within the Military

Stress and resilience are an inevitable part of a soldiers’ life, particularly in combat or war. Training military personnel to be resilient and capable of coping under high (combat)stress has been core business in most armies. Traditionally, this training was directed at maintaining physical performance under (combat)stress: the ability to fight. Nowadays, growing attention is given to physical, mental, and moral resilience, with a focus on short-term as well as on long-term adjustment in order to prevent PTSD and other stress-related symptoms after deployment. The 21st century has brought new challenges for military organizations, particularly in Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW). These missions bring new stressors and strains, and require new forms of training. This chapter deals with the question of how peacekeepers can best be prepared to deal with psychological demands of the operational environment. To this end, the concept of resilience is of special relevance to the military, as well as to other high-risk occupations. We therefore provide an overview of what is currently known about resilience under stressful work environments. We specifically address the combination of internal as well as external resources for enhancing resilience. We review current evidence based- training and intervention methods to enhance resilience and provide examples of how resilience can be enhanced.status: publishe

Keeping Up Spirits: The Effects of Trust in Lower-Level and Higher-Level Leaders and Morale on Perceived Operational Demands

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Keeping up Spirits: The Effects of Trust in Lower-Level and Higher-Level Leaders on Morale of Deployed Soldiers

Trust in leadership is essential in high-risk work-environments such as the military. Without a willingness to be vulnerable to the leader’s directives, soldiers may lose their focus and become less prepared to respond to operational demands. The present research examined how trust in different hierarchical leaders affects soldiers’ morale, defined by his or her enthusiasm and dedication to mission goals. Dutch soldiers’ (N=1413), part of different work units of the International Security Assistance Force for Afghanistan (2009-2010), filled out a self-report on their personal morale and trust in three hierarchical leaders. Generalized Equation Modeling (GEE) was used to account for the correlation among multiple responses made per participant. Results showed that, in general, the relationship between soldiers’ morale and trust in leadership is qualified by hierarchical distance. Leaders who stand more closely to their followers have more impact on followers’ job-related well-being as compared to higher hierarchical leaders. However, taking the characteristics of the job context into account changed the relationship between leaders and soldiers’ morale. Results provide insights on when military leaders should invest on forming closer relations with their followers or when they should operate at a distance.status: publishe

Chronic stressors and burnout in Dutch police officers: Two studies into the complex role of coping self-efficacy

INTRODUCTION: Burnout complaints are high for Dutch police officers. According to Hobfoll's Conservation of Resources theory, resources such as coping self-efficacy can play an important role in the burnout process. The aim of this study was to investigate the buffering effect of coping self-efficacy on burnout, as well as a possible depletion effect of burnout on coping self-efficacy. METHODS: As such, this research consists of two studies namely, a two-wave study ( N  = 166) and three-wave study ( N  = 95) on Dutch police officers. They expand on previous research regarding coping resources and police burnout. RESULTS: Both studies show that the chronic stressor, work scheduling, was positively associated with burnout. Also, coping self-efficacy weakened the effect of work scheduling (Study 1) and workload (Study 2) on burnout. Moreover, there was a direct negative relationship between burnout and coping self-efficacy. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that burnout can lead to lower coping resources, initiating a potential cycle of resource loss and burnout. Further investigation into this depletion effect is required to provide police officers and organisations with tools to prevent burnout