The Implications of Pre-Field Training, Negative Family-Related Events, and Negative Pre-Field Events for Resilience among Cross-Cultural Workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-217
Author(s):  
Nathaniel Thom ◽  
Pamela S. Davis ◽  
Luke Tseng

Cross-cultural workers are often exposed to a host of environmental, interpersonal, and physical stressors. This exposure may lead to negative mental health outcomes such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, or sub-clinical psychological distress. This study sought to investigate risk and resilience factors, both broadly and in-depth, among a group of faith-based cross-cultural workers. An adapted Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory, 2nd edition (DRRI-2) along with the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD–RISC) were administered to N=268 missionaries and faith-based humanitarian aid workers. A comprehensive correlational analysis revealed significant relationships to risk and resilience in the areas of pre-field preparation, negative family events while on the field, and pre-field negative events. Implications for member care are discussed.

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia B. Eriksson ◽  
Barbara Lopes Cardozo ◽  
David W. Foy ◽  
Miriam Sabin ◽  
Alastair Ager ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynette H. Bikos ◽  
Michael Klemens ◽  
Leigh Randa ◽  
Alyson Barry ◽  
Thomas Bore

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Taylor

The issue of attrition of longer-term cross-cultural workers is a critical and multifaceted one. We define attrition in its broadest sense as departure from field service by missionaries, regardless of cause. However, our prime concerns related to attrition themes speak to the causes of premature or painful departure from field service. We discovered major attrition variants between newer sending countries (NSC) and older sending countries (OSC). Lessons must be learned from both categories as mission stakeholder groups grapple with their own roles in addressing the causes of attrition as well as reducing it.


2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1191-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miranda Visser ◽  
Melinda Mills ◽  
Liesbet Heyse ◽  
Rafael Wittek ◽  
Vincenzo Bollettino

A limited body of research has examined satisfaction with work–life balance of expatriate workers who live abroad, residing outside the typical “family” or “life” domain. This study aims to demonstrate how and under which organizational circumstances job autonomy can increase work–life balance satisfaction of humanitarian aid expatriates. We hypothesize that especially in humanitarian work, trust in management can buffer potential negative effects of high autonomy. We test our hypothesis by means of ordinal logistic regression, using survey data collected among expatriates of the Operational Center Amsterdam of Médecins Sans Frontières ( N = 142). Results reveal that high levels of autonomy are positively related with work–life balance satisfaction when trust in the management of the organization is high. When trust in management is low, the effect of high autonomy on work–life balance satisfaction is negative. This implies that trust in management indeed buffers negative effects of high autonomy among expatriate humanitarian aid workers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-266
Author(s):  
Dana - Cristina Herta ◽  
Paula Brindas ◽  
Raluca Trifu ◽  
Doina Cozman

Background and aims. Resilience encompasses factors promoting effective functioning in the context of adversity. Data regarding resilience in the wake of accidental trauma is still scarce. The aim of the current study is to comparatively assess adaptive, life – promoting factors in persons exposed to motor vehicle accidents (MVA) vs. persons exposed to other types of accidents, and to identify psychological factors of resilience and vulnerability in this context of trauma exposure.Methods. We assessed 93 participants exposed to accidents out of 305 eligible patients from the Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital and Cluj County Emergency Hospital. The study used Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL) and Life Events Checklist. Scores were comparatively assessed for RFL items, RFL scale and subscales in participants exposed to motor vehicle accidents (MVA) vs. participants exposed to other life – threatening accidents.Results. Participants exposed to MVA and those exposed to other accidents had significantly different scores in 7 RFL items. Scores were high in 4 out of 6 RFL subscales for both samples and in most items comprising these subscales, while in the other 2 subscales and in some items comprising them scores were low.Conclusions. Low fear of death, physical suffering and social disapproval emerge as risk factors in persons exposed to life – threatening accidents. Love of life, courage in life and hope for the future are important resilience factors after exposure to various types of life – threatening accidents. Survival and active coping beliefs promote resilience especially after motor vehicle accidents. Coping with uncertainty are more likely to foster resilience after other types of life – threatening accidents. Attachment of the accident victim to family promotes resilience mostly after MVA, while perceived attachment of family members to the victim promotes resilience after other types of accidents.  


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