Personal traits predict conservationists’ optimism about outcomes for nature

Pienkowski, Thomas; Keane, Aidan; Lange, Emiel de; Khanyari, Munib; Arlidge, William N. S.; Baranyi, Gergő; Brittain, Stephanie; Tickell, Sofia Castelló y; Hazenbosch, Mirjam; Papworth, Sarah; Milner‐Gulland, E. J.

doi:10.1111/conl.12873

Cited by 6 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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Section: Variable Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Swaisgood and Sheppard 13 suggest there may be a culture of "learned helplessness" within the conservation sector 74 , potentially leading to demotivation and distress. Our results suggest that those with lower situational optimism about conservation tend to report higher levels of distress, but this effect size was relatively small when controlling for dispositional optimism.…”

Section: Workplace Mental Health In Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dispositional optimism is generally stable over an individual's life course 73 . Therefore, individuals struggling with low dispositional optimism might bene t most from support when working in challenging roles or avoid such positions altogether, where feasible 74 .…”

Section: Workplace Mental Health In Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Latent dispositional optimism was estimated using the Life Orientation Test-Revised, using the factor structure described in other literature (see SI 16) 72,74,95 . Latent situational optimism was estimated using a ten-item instrument developed in a companion study 74 . In summary, this instrument included pairs of statements corresponding to the ve Strategic Goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity's Aichi Biodiversity Targets 96 .…”

Section: Variable Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Respondents were asked about the likelihood that each statement would be achieved in the next decade. This latent variable was estimated using the factor structure described in Pienkowski, et al 74 (see SI 17).…”

Section: Variable Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Protecting those who protect nature by supporting conservationists’ mental health

Pienkowski

Keane

Tickell

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Biodiversity conservation work can be challenging but rewarding, with potential consequences for conservationists’ mental health. Yet, little is known about patterns of mental health among conservationists and its associated protective and risk factors. A better understanding may help improve working conditions, supporting conservationists’ job satisfaction, productivity, and engagement, while reducing costs from staff turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism. We surveyed 2311 conservation professionals working across 122 countries, asking about experiences of psychological distress, personal characteristics, and workplace conditions. Over half were from and worked in Europe and North America, and most had university-level education, were in desk-based academic and practitioner roles, and responded in English. Moderate or severe distress was reported by 27.8% (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale scores over 24). Respondents with low dispositional and conservation-specific optimism, poor physical health, limited social support, women, and early-career professionals were most at risk in our sample. Heavy workload, job demands, and organisational instability were linked to higher distress, but job stability and satisfaction with one’s contributions to conservation were associated with lower distress. We suggest ways employers and others might ‘promote the positives’ and manage the risks of working in the sector, potentially supporting conservationists’ mental health and abilities to protect nature.

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Section: Variable Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Workplace Mental Health In Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Workplace Mental Health In Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Variable Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Variable Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Protecting those who protect nature by supporting conservationists’ mental health

Pienkowski

Keane

Tickell

et al. 2022

Preprint

Self Cite

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Relationships between hope, optimism, and conservation engagement

Dean

Wilson

2023

Conservation Biology

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The loss and degradation of nature can lead to hopelessness and despair, which may undermine engagement in conservation actions. Emerging movements, such as that behind the organization Conservation Optimism, aim to avert potential despair of those involved in conservation. Some argue that fostering positive states, such as hope or optimism, can motivate engagement and action; however, others question whether fostering hope or optimism may inadvertently undermine perceived gravity of conservation challenges. We examined this issue by quantifying dispositional hope and optimism with a representative sample of Australians (n = 4285) and assessing their relationship with indicators of conservation engagement. We used the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia as a case study. We asked participants what they could do to help the GBR, then classified their responses into 2 outcome variables: identifying climate actions (i.e., actions that tackle the main threat to the reef) and identifying plastic actions (i.e., actions that are popular among community members). We also quantified likelihood of performing these actions and appraisals of both threats and actions. One dimension of hope, hope pathways (defined by Snyder's hope theory as knowing different ways to act), was associated with greater capacity to identify climate‐related behaviors (odds ratio [OR] = 1.44) and plastic reduction behaviors (OR = 1.22) and greater likelihood of adopting climate‐related actions (β = 0.20). Optimism was associated with recognition of plastic reduction behaviors only (OR = 1.22). Neither hope nor optimism undermined appraisal of conservation threats. The effects of optimism were mediated by reduced action futility, and effects of hope pathways were mediated by stronger perceptions of threats to the reef (threat appraisal) and confidence in performing useful actions (coping appraisal). Our findings suggest that dispositional hope can strengthen, rather than undermine, appraisal of conservation challenges and solutions and thereby increase conservation engagement.

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Recognizing reflexivity among conservation practitioners

Pienkowski

Kiik

Catalano

et al. 2023

Conservation Biology

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When deciding how to conserve biodiversity, practitioners navigate diverse missions, sometimes conflicting approaches, and uncertain trade‐offs. These choices are based not only on evidence, funders’ priorities, stakeholders’ interests, and policies, but also on practitioners’ personal experiences, backgrounds, and values. Calls for greater reflexivity—an individual or group's ability to examine themselves in relation to their actions and interactions with others—have appeared in the conservation science literature. But what role does reflexivity play in conservation practice? We explored how self‐reflection can shape how individuals and groups conserve nature. To provide examples of reflexivity in conservation practice, we conducted a year‐long series of workshop discussions and online exchanges. During these, we examined cases from the peer‐reviewed and gray literature, our own experiences, and conversations with 10 experts. Reflexivity among practitioners spanned individual and collective levels and informal and formal settings. Reflexivity also encompassed diverse themes, including practitioners’ values, emotional struggles, social identities, training, cultural backgrounds, and experiences of success and failure. Reflexive processes also have limitations, dangers, and costs. Informal and institutionalized reflexivity requires allocation of limited time and resources, can be hard to put into practice, and alone cannot solve conservation challenges. Yet, when intentionally undertaken, reflexive processes might be integrated into adaptive management cycles at multiple points, helping conservation practitioners better reach their goals. Reflexivity could also play a more transformative role in conservation by motivating practitioners to reevaluate their goals and methods entirely. Reflexivity might help the conservation movement imagine and thus work toward a better world for wildlife, people, and the conservation sector itself.

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Personal traits predict conservationists’ optimism about outcomes for nature

Cited by 6 publications

References 32 publications

Protecting those who protect nature by supporting conservationists’ mental health

Protecting those who protect nature by supporting conservationists’ mental health

Relationships between hope, optimism, and conservation engagement

Recognizing reflexivity among conservation practitioners

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