Date
5-22-2024
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Ralph (Mike) Lecounte Ogburn
Keywords
resilience, mental toughness, adversity, workplace satisfaction, interventions, employee well-being, civilian
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Maiah E., "Mental Toughness in the Workplace" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5652.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5652
Abstract
Within the realm of the modern work organization, the employers role on employees’ mental health has emerged as a critical factor concerning job attrition. Frequently, work organizations prioritize their productivity and output, rather than recognizing the importance of individual contributions as a reflection of their well-being. Research on workplace satisfaction and adversity management has failed to address the challenges that non-military or law enforcement populations face in retaining talent. Current research on mental toughness, resilience, and grit has overlooked the importance of civilian population training interventions, leaving a gap in the literature. This mixed-method study used an explanatory sequential design, combining quantitative survey data with phenomenology, to address this gap by examining the instances of workplace adversities of 144 non-military or law enforcement employees. The research questions explored the relationships between mental toughness, grit, workplace satisfaction and perceived adversity in the workplace, framed within the incremental theory and cognitive affective model (CAP). Quantitative data suggested that there was a positive correlation between mental toughness and grit, workplace satisfaction and mental toughness, and between workplace satisfaction and grit. Qualitative data analysis revealed three primary themes in the participants’ written stories when asked about their instances of workplace adversity: tone, emotionality, and temporal focus. The findings emphasize the need for employers to prioritize employee mental toughness and resilience interventions in an effort to bolster workplace satisfaction, minimize quitting intention, and retain talent while improving overall well-being.
