Leading as emotional management work in high risk times: the counterintuitive impulses of performativity and passion

This paper explores, through a case study of educational restructuring in Victoria, Australia, how school leaders in a public education system in Australia mediate reform discourses emphasizing managerial and market accountability and the emotional and messy work of teaching and leading. These accountability exercises were often seen by teachers and principals to be distractions; more about reporting and recording, rather than addressing substantive educational issues. They simultaneously distanced teachers and leaders from the 'real' and 'passionate' work of education while appropriating and commodifying teachers' and leaders' emotions and desires to do well. School leaders were expected to manage the emotional performances of their students, parents and colleagues as well as themselves. They also managed the emotions arising from the dissonance between teachers' professional and personal commitment to making a difference for all students based on principles of equity and the performativity requirements based on efficiency and narrowly defined and predetermined criteria of effectiveness and success that often undermined improvement for many students. In that sense performativity ('being seen to be good') and passion (for 'doing good') often produced counterintuitive impulses.

The use of injury surveillance databases to identify emerging injury hazards

Among the many valuable uses of injury surveillance is the potential to alert health authorities and societies in general to emerging injury trends, facilitating earlier development of prevention measures. Other than road safety, to date, few attempts to forecast injury data have been made, although forecasts have been made of other public health issues. This may in part be due to the complex pattern of variance displayed by injury data. The profile of many injury types displays seasonality and diurnal variance, as well as stochastic variance. The authors undertook development of a simple model to forecast injury into the near term. In recognition of the large numbers of possible predictions, the variable nature of injury profiles and the diversity of dependent variables, it became apparent that manual forecasting was impractical. Therefore, it was decided to evaluate a commercially available forecasting software package for prediction accuracy against actual data for a set of predictions. Injury data for a 4-year period (1996 to 1999) were extracted from the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset and were used to develop forecasts for the year 2000, for which data was also held. The forecasts for 2000 were compared to the actual data for 2000 by independent t-tests, and the standard errors of the predictions were modelled by stepwise hierarchical multiple regression using the independent variables of the standard deviation, seasonality, mean monthly frequency and slope of the base data (R = 0.93, R² = 0.86, F_{(3, 27)} = 55.2, p < 0.0001). Significant contributions to the model included the SD (β = 1.60, p < 0.001), mean monthly frequency (β =  - 0.72, p < 0.002), and the seasonality of the data (β = 0.16, p < 0.02). It was concluded that injury data could be reliably forecast and that commercial software was adequate for the task. Variance in the data was found to be the most important determinant of prediction accuracy. Importantly, automated forecasting may provide a vehicle for identifying emerging trends.

Role of peer support and emotional expression on posttraumatic stress disorder in student paramedics

This exploratory study contrasted and tested the predictive value of the reverse buffering hypothesis of social support and the information processing model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in an investigation of trauma-related symptomatology (TRS) in a single sample of 42 student paramedics. Participants completed several anonymous self-report measures of PTSD symptomatology, peer social support, and attitude toward emotional expression. Regression-based path analyses did not support either theory of PTSD in this population. A path model of PTSD in student paramedics was subsequently developed, indicating that a direct relationship exists between duty-related trauma exposure, dysfunctional peer social support, and students' negative attitudes toward emotional expression. This new model accounted for 30% of the variance in student paramedics' TRS.

Emotional intelligence and teaching : further validation evidence

Further evidence is presented to demonstrate the validity of a new measure of emotional intelligence: Reactions to Teaching Situations (RTS). Using criterion-related groups of high and low scorers on the RTS, it is shown that high scorers give more responses coded as emotional intelligence in their answers to sentence completion tasks relating to ten situations found in teaching. The questions of convergent and discriminant validity is tackled by examination of correlations of emotional intelligence scores and scores on the Multiple Intelligences Checklist for Adults (MICA) and information processing preferences as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The results confirm that emotional intelligence (as assessed by the RTS) bears significant relationships to both intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligences and also to linguistic intelligence, but emotional intelligence shows no significant relationships with the MBTI preferences.

Population health and wellbeing: identifying priority areas for Victorian children

Background
Population health information, collected using soundly-designed methodologies, is essential to inform policy, research, and intervention programs. This study aimed to derive policy-oriented recommendations for the content of a health and wellbeing population survey of children 0–12 years living in Victoria, Australia.

Results
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 54 academic and policy stakeholders, selected to encompass a wide breadth of expertise in areas of public health and inter-sectoral organisations relevant to child health outcomes, including universities, government and non-government agencies across Victoria. These stakeholders were asked to provide advice on strategic priorities for child health information (data) using a structured interview technique. Their comments were summarised and the major themes were extracted. The priority areas of health and wellbeing recommended for regular collection include obesity and its determinants, pregnancy and breastfeeding, oral health, injury, social and emotional health and wellbeing, family environment, community, health service utilisation, illness, and socioeconomic position. Population policy questions for each area were identified.

Conclusion
In contrast to previous population survey programs nationally and internationally, this study sought to extract contemporary policy-oriented domains for inclusion in a strategic program of child health data collection, using a stakeholder consultation process to identify key domains and policy information needs. The outcomes are a rich and relevant set of recommendations which will now be taken forward into a regular statewide child health survey program.

Physical activity, emotional stress, sleep disturbances, and daily fluctuations in chronic fatigue symptomatology

The current study explored the relationships between physical and emotional stress and the symptomatology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Fifty-four CFS patients were studied using a longitudinal design. A self-report format was used to collect daily measures of major physical (sleep disturbance and physical activity) and emotional (subjective emotional stress level) stressors, as well as measures of levels of fatigue and secondary symptoms. The variables accounted for a moderate variance at the individual and occasion levels. Sleep disturbance and emotional stress were found to be positively associated with levels of fatigue and symptomatology, whereas physical activity was found to have a negative relationship with fatigue only. The severity of fatigue and symptoms were found to fluctuate daily in relation with the variables, indicating the complex nature of the associations.

Pressure injury: an exploration of the relationship between risk factors and interface pressure

Pressure injuries are a serious risk for patients admitted to hospital and are thought to result from a number of forces operating on skin tissue (pressure, shear and friction). Most research on interface pressure (IP) has taken place using healthy volunteers or mannequins. Little is currently known about the relationship between pressure injury risk and IP for hospital patients. This relationship was investigated with a sample of 121 adult hospital patients. Pressure injury risk was evaluated using the Waterlow Risk Assessment Tool (WRAT) and IP was measured at the sacrum using a Tekscan ClinSeatTM IP sensor mat. Other factors considered were body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, reason for hospital admission, comorbidities and admission route to hospital. Patients were classified according to WRAT categories (‘low risk’, ‘at risk’, ‘high risk’, ‘very high risk’) and then remained still on a standard hospital mattress for 10 minutes while IP was measured. Participants in the ‘low risk’ group were significantly younger than all other groups (p<0.001) and there were some group differences in BMI. IP readings were compared between the ‘low risk’ group and all of the participants at greater risk. The ‘low risk’ group had significantly lower IP at the sacrum on a standard hospital mattress than those at greater risk (p=0.002). Those at greater risk tended to have IP readings at the low end of the compromised IP range. This study is significant because it describes a new, clinically relevant methodology and presents findings that challenge clinician assumptions about the relationships between pressure injury risk assessment and IP.

Best buys in fall injury prevention

More than 4,400 Victorian children are admitted to hospital for fall related injuries annually. Of these, 1,967 are known to have fallen from playground equipment. These 1,967 children consume 5,620 bed days. Another 3,934 children are treated in Emergency Departments for falls from playground equipment. In total, the direct cost borne by government is estimated at more than 4.7 million dollars. The cost in bed days and Emergency services is also considerable.

Emotional intelligence, attachment styles and couple relationship satisfaction

This study examined links between emotional intelligence (EI), attachment styles and gender as part of a larger study into the relationship between EI and relationship satisfaction. Two hundred and forty-six participants (age range 18-79, M=36.41, SD=13.78) were recruited via media advertisements. They completed measures of EI and attachment style in addition to providing demographic information. A significant main effect was found for attachment style across all aspects of EI. For gender, a significant main effect was found only for the empathy aspect of EI. Further, significant effects were found for the interaction of gender and attachment on both the mood and empathy factors of EI. These differences are discussed in the context of attachment style theory.

Emotional turmoil at the Bauhaus : problems of internal and external legitimacy : an historical case study

Walter Gropius established the Bauhaus in Germany in 1919. The organization established one of the most important design movements of the twentieth century. The organization had a very brief existence and was fraught with disruptions and emotional turmoil. Despite the difficulties, Gropius managed to keep the organization alive long enough for its extraordinary creativity to be harnessed and developed. The organization closed in 1933, but by that time its legitimacy as a source of design and pedagogy was assured. Organizational survival is often dependent on government subsidies, support through sales, donations or sponsorships. A factor in attracting this support is the perceived legitimacy of the organisation. Legitimacy is defined as a degree of consensus that the meanings and behavior of an organisation are valid and desirable by society in
general. Legitimacy remains an undeveloped concept. This paper reviews relevant theories of legitimacy, considers the role of emotions in shaping legitimacy and the emotions evoked as legitimacy is negotiated by internal and external stakeholders. A historical case study of the Bauhaus provides the backdrop for portraying the focal role emotions can play in institutionalization. The paper concludes with a discussion of the lessons of legitimacy available to contemporary cultural organisations.

Losing innocence : finding the line between emotional bonds and boundaries in protective service work

This paper builds on existing literature on the notion of emotional labour by investigating work in a child protective service environment. Notable characteristics of formal organisations, such as child protective services, are that they operate within a legal framework and that workers' professional duties have great influence on clients. This paper examines the intricacies of the worker-client relationship and the emotional dynamics of the service interactions by interviewing a group of workers in a public hospital in Victoria, Australia. This research extricates the complexities in the client-worker relationship by examining a range of work characteristics including their roles as professional caregivers, the emotional bonds and boundaries in the workers-client relationship, the intensity and magnitude of felt and displayed emotions, as well as the self-management of emotions and clients' emotions. This study adds to existing knowledge on the emotional expressions, experiences and regulation of emotions of the professional work lives in a child protective service work environment.
This paper is divided into the following sections. The first section details protective service work within the larger framework of human service work, and how the worker-client interface is different from other front-line service work. This is followed the need to examine the emotional dynamics of work in a child protective service organisation. Next, a study of these emotional dynamics in a child protective service organisation is reported. The paper concludes with a consideration of the wider implications for the sociology of protective service work, and how affective issues differ other service work roles.

Defining emotional levels and climate as context and events

Recent work by Fisher highlighted the importance of making distinctions in levels of measurement of affect. She argued that general measurement of an individual's emotions represents the emotional experience in a person as a single point, or as a summary score of the individual's emotional experience over a period of time. Within-level emotion comparisons, in contrast, are made by assessing the emotional state of an individual at several points in time and then making comparisons between those points, thus, keeping intact the individual's pattern of emotional experience over time. The present argument extends the within/between distinction raised by Fisher at the individual level of analysis to the group or organization level analysis. That is, although affective climate is typically considered as relatively stable or trait-like characteristics of an organization, it can also be thought of as the aggregate measure of people's experiences over time.

Can experiential learning improve emotional intelligence and can that, in turn, improve the work performance of middle managers?

A group of middle managers in the Australian arm of a large Global company participated in a program of experiential leadership training over a period of one year. One aim of the program was increased interpersonal skills and awareness. Change was measured using a mixed quantitative and qualitative longitudinal design. Pre and post-training measures of emotional intelligence were obtained using the EIQ (Dulewicz & Higgs, 2000) and compared with content analysis of journals kept by participants during the program. The dependent variable was measured by pre and post training measures of work performance. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for management development as well as for further research.

Teaching landing skills in elite junior Australian football: evaluation of an injury prevention strategy

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a preseason physical training programme that taught landing and falling skills in improving landing skills technique and preventing injury in junior elite Australian football players.

Methods: 723 male players who participated in an under 18 elite competition were studied prospectively in a non-randomised controlled trial over two consecutive football seasons. There were 114 players in the intervention group and 609 control players. The eight session intervention programme taught players six landing, falling, and recovery skills, which were considered fundamental for safe landing in Australian football. Landing skills taught in these sessions were rated for competence by independent and blinded assessors at baseline and mid-season.

Results: Evaluation of landing skills found no significant differences between the groups at baseline. Evaluation after the intervention revealed overall improvement in landing skills, but significantly greater improvement in the intervention group (z = –7.92, p = 0.001). Players in the intervention group were significantly less likely (relative rate 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.52 to 0.98) to sustain an injury during the season than the control group. In particular, the time to sustaining a landing injury was significantly less for the intervention group (relative rate 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.17 to 0.92) compared with the control group.

Conclusions: Landing and falling ability can be taught to junior elite Australian football players. Players in the intervention group were protected against injury, particularly injuries related to landing and falls.