Resilience in healthcare professions : does the stress shield model fit?

Healthcare professionals are exposed to a range of challenging situations that can result in adverse physical and psychological outcomes; therefore, research exploring resilience in this population is needed. This study examined the capacity of the Stress Shield Model (SSM) to explain relationships between individual, interpersonal and organisational-level factors and outcomes in resilience and growth in healthcare professionals. Australian participants (N = 85) from multiple healthcare occupations completed an online survey measuring conscientiousness, neuroticism, coping styles, peer cohesion, supervisory support, work environment, organisational climate, empowerment, resilience and growth. Results indicated the SSM did not significantly explain relationships between individual, interpersonal and organisational-level factors and resilience and growth in healthcare professionals. In addition, evidence did not support the use of empowerment as a mediator variable. Although non-significant, peer cohesion and organisational climate positively predicted both resilience and growth. Further, supervisory support and a negative work environment negatively predicted both resilience and growth. In contrast, there were inconsistent relationships between outcomes of resilience and growth and predictors of conscientiousness and neuroticism. Findings indicate that there are factors within the SSM, including peer cohesion and organisational climate, that are important to encourage in healthcare professions. However, additional complex individual, interpersonal and organisational-level factors must be considered as predictors in future research.