What is resilience and why is it helpful to be resilient?

​

Higher, faster and further - the demands in our private and professional lives are increasing and resilience seems to be one of the most frequently used buzzwords at the moment.

 

But what exactly is resilience?

​

Without a uniform definition within the German language, resilience is often described synonymously as an inner (psychological) resilience or ability that enables us humans to cope with adversity and high levels of stress (Ref. 1-2). Resilience research is an interdisciplinary science from neuroscience, medicine, psychology and social sciences (ref 3) and examines why people manage not to break as a result of mental crises, but rather to grow and develop self-confidence (Ref.2). A resilient person does not somehow survive a crisis, but emerges from it strengthened with a view to the future and self-development. Being resilient not only helps us to cope with private and professional changes, stress and crises, but also to come out of them stronger with a view to the future. Resilience is therefore a major contributor to our mental wellbeing.

​

Resilience in the work context?

​

Every third to fourth German suffers from a mental disorder in the course of life (Ref.4-5). Widespread mental health problems are the main cause of productivity declines in workplaces (Ref. 5). Thus, strengthening resilience in the context of work-related stress and psychosocial health is also becoming increasingly relevant in workplace health management (Ref. 4-5).The development of resilience and resilience strengthening is essential for coping with stress and preventing psychosocial diseases such as burnout.

​

Work-related psychological strain due to a high workload, social stigmatisation, unsupportive work culture and moral conflicts in everyday work also play a role in animal experimental research. These risk factors are involved in the development of mental stress such as burnout or compassion fatigue (Ref. 6-9.). In terms of a positive culture of care, we not only have to ensure the maximum possible individual animal welfare, but also place a stronger focus on human wellbeing in a supportive work culture [see:Ferrara et al., 2022;Ferrara 2020 and resilience article berliner compact courses (Ferrara 2022). More on my site culture of care).

 

 

Can resilience be trained?

​

The answer is YES, because resilience is not innate, but a capacity that develops through interactions in a process of adaptation and development and can be learned throughout life . Optimism, acceptance, ability to act, willingness to take responsibility, solution-orientation, network and future care are the seven resilience factors or characteristics that serve as supporting pillars to enable us to better cope with stress and crises (ref 10).

 

How can you, your team or your employees train resilience?

​

Mental health (often used synonymously with psychological health) is becoming increasingly important in the workplace. This raises the question of how a supportive work culture can foster the targeted development of personal resilience, leadership resilience, and team resilience. Through resilience training, you and your team learn to activate resources and strengthen inner resistance when working in the field of animal research. With regard to building organizational resilience, company-supported resilience training plays a particularly important role in the working environment of animal research. Resilience training can also be effectively integrated into the form of workshops within scientific companies or research institutions.

 

Why Resilience training with me?

​

Based on my own professional experience, I not only pursued an additional degree in Medical Ethics and Law, but also specialized further in the areas of work-related stress, supportive work environments, and workplace culture. My portfolio is complemented by certifications as a Resilience Trainer, Burnout Consultant, Compassion Fatigue Professional, Mental Health First Aider, and Trainer in Autogenic Training (see section references). I tailor my training to your individual needs and topics. If you are interested, I offer a free free initial consultation.

​

An overview of my resilience training programs can be found here.

​

​

 

​

​

​

​

​

Science – Wellbeing – Work Culture:

For impulses, insights, and inspiration on this topic and my work, you are welcome to subscribe to my newsletter. Published 2–4 times a year. Free. Clear. Valuable. In my Meet, Greet & Learn Hub, I also provide a professional hub for everyone working in animal research. The focus is on putting well-being, ethics, law, research quality, and resilience into practice—together. Not just talking, but learning, shaping, strengthening, and growing together.

​​​

 

 

​

References

1. Stock, C. (2019): Resilience. Stuttgart: Trias Verlag.

2. Wellensiek, S. (2017 (a)): Handbuch Resilienztraining. 2. aktualisierte Auflage. Weinheim Basel: Beltz Verlag, Programm Training, Coaching und Beratung.

3. Mauritz, S. (2020): Die Geschichte der Resilienz. Available under:https://www.resilienz-akademie.com/die-geschichte-der-resilienz/; last access 01.08.2022.

4. Wellensiek, S. (2017 (b)): Resilienztraining für Führungskräfte. 2. Auflage. Weinheim Basel: Beltz Verlag, Programm Training, Coaching und Beratung.

5. Badura, B. (2016): Arbeit und Gesundheit im 21. Jahrhundert. Berlin: Springer-Gabler Verlag.

6. Ferrara F, Hiebl B, Kunzmann P et al (2022): Culture of care in animal research – Expanding the 3Rs to include people. Lab Anim. Online ahead of print, doi: 10.1177/00236772221102238.

7. Goni-Balentziaga O, Vila S, Ortega-Saez I, et al (2021): Professional quality of life in research involving laboratory animals. Animals (Basel); 11:2639.

8. Randall MS, Moody CM, Patricia V, et al (2021): Mental wellbeing in laboratory animal professionals: A crosssectional study of compassion fatigue, contributing factors, and coping mechanisms. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci; 60:54-63.

9. LaFollette MR, Riley MC, Cloutier S, et al (2020): Laboratory animal welfare meets human welfare: A cross-sectional study of professional quality of life, including compassion fatigue in laboratory animal personnel. Front Vet Sci; 5:7-114.

10. Reivich K and Shatté, A (2003): THE RECILIENCE FACTOR. USA: Three Rivers Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc, New York.