Social workers need training in resilience to reduce stress levels

Training in emotional resilience could protect the wellbeing of trainee social workers - an occupational group who are highly vulnerable to work-related stress. This is the finding of a study presented today, 15th January 2010 at the British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference in Brighton.

Professor Gail Kinman and Louise Grant of the University of Bedfordshire studied 240 trainee social workers (82 per cent female, with an average age of 33) in order to better understand why some people are vulnerable to stress while others manage to cope well under demanding work conditions. They measured their levels of emotional resilience and psychological distress, as well as several key attributes that might enhance stress resilience such as emotional intelligence, empathy and reflective ability.

Of the 240 trainee social workers, 43 per cent had scores of psychological distress high enough to warrant psychological intervention.

Professor Kinman said: "This finding is worrying, and illustrates the psychological demands on social workers. Our findings indicated that trainee social workers who were more emotionally intelligent and socially competent were more resilient, and that this seemed to protect them from the high levels of psychological distress that are endemic in this profession.

"We suggest that time and training should be dedicated to helping trainee social workers develop the emotional competences that are likely to enhance their emotional resilience and equip them for their future career."

The British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference is taking place at the Brighton Holiday Inn from 13 - 15 January 2010, visit www.bps.org.uk/dop2010 for more information.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION prior to the conference please CONTACT: The Media Centre on 0116 2529904 or email mediacentre@bps.org.uk