When the going gets tough: Developing Emotional Resilience in First Year Students Sue Morgan Senior Lecturer and Clinical Placement Coordinator in Diagnostic Radiography

Before we begin...

Why this session?

Diagnostic Radiography at BCU Faculty of Health, Education & Life Sciences 118 DR students per intake 50/50 spilt of clinical placement and academic Elongated academic year – 42 weeks Placement – 34.5 hours per week Academic – approx 20 hours per week No tuition fees; means tested bursary

Diagnostic Radiography Students 75% mature 46% ethnic minority 92% non-traditional entry qualifications 58% female / 42% male

Why resilience? Increasing number of students apparently unable to cope with demands of programme Anecdotally affecting attrition and success Placement appeared to be main problem In reality placement not sole issue “Being a student is difficult.....” Not all students Spread across different “types” of students

What is resilience? Complex, multifaceted (Grant & Kinman, 2013) Ability to adapt / bounce back Survive and function in adversity Educational vs. socio-emotional resilience (Walker et al, 2006) Is it a trait or can it be taught?

Can we spot a resilient student?

Thrive, survive (or going under...) Student A 40 yr old, white ♀ Access course, 3 children Single parent Lives 35 from university Was a shop assistant Student B 20 yr old; white ♂ Living in accommodation 10 miles to placement A-levels. Good grades Part time job Student C 19 yr old; British Asian ♂ Lives with parents; 5 miles to university; 20 miles to placement; BTEC straight from school Part time job Student D 29 yr old; Black African ♀ 2 children; has husband Access course Lives 2 miles from university Part time job Thrives Survives just! Goes under Survives

How is resilience measured?

Helping students to become more resilient..... ABCs Self-awareness Relaxation Worst case scenario SuperBetter

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Self-awareness Self awareness is key to emotional resilience What qualities make me feel good about myself? What can I offer the world around me? What is my own definition of happiness? What value do you put on yourself?

Factors which lead to positive change & outcomes Factors which may compromise development Internal attributes Strengths What are you good at? What do you do well? What are you proud of? What previous skills/ knowledge/experience do you have? Weaknesses What do you struggle with? What do you need to improve? What do you avoid? External attributes Opportunities What support network do you have? How is this course changing your life? Challenges What external pressures may affect you? Who/what may get in your way?

An Oak or A Palm?

Relaxation

Worst case scenario – putting it in perspective

Control… Perceiving to be in control is a good predictor of coping with stressful events (Funk 1992)

SuperBetter A tool / game designed to strengthen emotional, physical, social and mental resilience Available as app or via web: Basic principles can be demonstrated to students… at_can_give_you_10_extra_years_of_life

Physical resilience If you can move one part of your body for one minute every hour that you’re awake your physical resilience will improve!

Mental resilience If you complete one small mental challenge every day without giving up you will increase metal focus and determination

Emotional resilience If you can do three tiny things a day that make you feel good and provoke positive emotion you will improve your emotional resilience!

Social resilience Touch and gratitude are just two ways to strengthen your social connections. If you can reach out to one person a day, online or face to face you will improve your social resilience!

Being a first year student is hard There are many challenges in transition Students have to develop their own resilience We can give them the tools to achieve this To summarise

References Funk, S.C. (1995) Hardiness: a review of theory and research. Health Psycology 11(5), Grant, L. and Kinman, G. (2014) Emotional Resilience in the Helping Professions and how it can be Enhanced. Health and Social Care Education 3(1), Walker, C. Gleaves, A. & Grey, J. (2006) Can students within higher education learn to be resilient and, educationally speaking, does it matter? Educational Studies 32(3),