The use of validated work stress and resilience assessment tools: A mixed method study of their applicability and understanding in the Occupation Therapy Workplace

Introduction: This study analyses the applicability of validated work stress and resilience assessment tools to the Occupation Therapy (OT) workplace, and OT’s understanding and experiences of the meaning of work stress and resilience, to inform current OT leadership and management approaches to work stress and resilience. Method: The study utilises mixed quantitative and qualitative methods involving a self-completed online questionnaire ( n = 36), the completion of three standardised work stress assessment tools and further qualitative semi-structured interviews ( n = 15) with thematic analysis of the transcriptions. Findings: Findings from the mixed methods data indicated divergence between the results from the validated tools and the Occupational Therapist’s actual experiences of resilience. Quantitative data indicated participants as having a ‘normal’ level of self-efficacy and resilience in the workplace with many of the stressors being reflected as positive and motivational pressures rather than harmful stress. However, findings from the qualitative data related negative experiences that system constraints and demands are having on participants’ self-efficacy, professional identity, integrity and consequently resilience. Conclusion: The findings highlight three key interrelated issues which inform current OT leaders and managers’ use of validated work stress and resilience tools, towards the development of a service resilience framework to better meet the needs of the OT workforce.