Mental Resilience and Emotional Resonance: An Approach through the Thematic Apperception Test Projective Process

Abstract

Health professionals indicate a particularly burdened pro­file, due to the intense psycho-stressors they face in their daily lives, the shrinking of their expectations, the vulnerability that corresponds to their personality, and the dangerousness of their professional role. This study set out to investigate the mental resilience of health workers, through the projective Thematic Apperception Test (T.A.T.), in order to predict organizational commitment in the work field. Display and analysis of images of TAT. to focused sampling of 70 healthcare professionals (N-40 completed tests), in their free time, combined with open­ended questions, regarding the satisfaction, they receive from their role and work, the meeting of their needs, and the fulfill­ment of their expectations, regarding their primary motivation and choice to be trained in health professions regardless of age, gender or experience. Qualitative data in the form of the subjective response and reflection of the subjects, through the narrative non-interven­tional process are presented. The non-satisfaction or adequate response to the needs of the research is connected to the expe­rience of intense emotional manifestations, while the frustra­tion of their needs and desires in the context of their role led to the experience of a feeling of futility and lack of hope. This study was limited by its complicated undertaking, as a compar­ative juxtaposition of the results stems from completely distinct scientific and epistemological fields. The daily performance of duties stirs up many different internal fears in health profes­sionals, conscious ones arising from the exercise of duties and less conscious and more personal and internal ones. As health professionals are exposed to death and the process of loss, they are exposed to the futility of life and their mortality as well resulting in the shaking up of their fears and the emergence of increased death anxiety. However, lifelong education during working life can positively influence the attitude of health professionals, with a direct impact on quality improvement.