Personal goals and resilience among Hong Kong secondary school teachers

Abstract

Objectives: The present study explored the effect of particular personal goals on individuals’ coping outcome. In particular, it examined which and how personal goals, as a personality factor, would enhance resilience in stressful work situations.

Methods: A total of 31 teachers were recruited from three different Hong Kong secondary schools of different bandings. Participants were assessed of their level of stress by the Teacher Stress Scale (TSS) and of their psychological distress by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Based on their stress exposure level and reaction level, they were stratified into four subgroups with particular attention given to the vulnerable group (n=9) and the resilient group (n=6). Their reasons for being a teacher were analyzed qualitatively, as the manifestation of personal goals at work.

Results: A significant positive correlation was found between participants’ GHQ and TSS scores. Significant differences were found in GHQ and TSS scores among the four subgroups. That is, the grouping method had successfully distinguished “resilient” participants from “vulnerable” ones. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the vulnerable and resilient group in particular goals, there were some observable differences in the distribution of personal goals among the two subgroups. More goals were related to materiality among the resilient group, whereas more goals were related to personal well-beings among the vulnerable group.

Discussion: The findings suggest the importance of personal goals on coping outcome. The identified patterns of goal pursuits at work provide inspiration that help explain participants’ resilience and vulnerabilities in stressful work situation. People who find themselves having difficulties at work might consider re-evaluating their goals at work.