Mental toughness in surgeons: Is there room for improvement?

Dean B. Percy · L. Streith · Heather Wong · Chad G. Ball · Sandy L. Widder · Morad S. Hameed

25 citations0/0 files storedCanadian Journal of Surgery

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Sport Psychology and Performance Surgical Simulation and Training Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation

Abstract

Background: Mental toughness is crucial to high-level performance in stressful situations. However, there is no formal evaluation or training in mental toughness in surgery. Our objective was to examine differences in mental toughness between staff and resident surgeons, and whether there is an interest in improving this attribute. Methods: We distributed a survey containing the Mental Toughness Index (domains of self-belief, attention regulation, emotion regulation, success mindset, context knowledge, buoyancy, optimism and adversity capacity) among general surgery residents and staff at 3 Canadian academic institutions. Responses were recorded on a 7-point Likert scale. Participants were also asked about techniques they used to help them perform under pressure and interest in further developing mental toughness. Results: Eighty-three of 193 surgeons participated: 56/105 (52.8%) residents and 27/87 (31.0%) staff. The average age was 29 (standard deviation 5) years and 42 (standard deviation 8) years, respectively. Residents scored significantly lower than staff in all mental toughness domains. Men scored significantly higher than women in attention regulation and emotion regulation. Age, staff experience and resident postgraduate year were not significantly associated with mental toughness scores. Twenty residents (36%) and 17 staff (63%) reported using specific techniques to deal with stressful situations; 49 (88%) and 15 (56%), respectively, were interested in further developing mental toughness. Conclusion: Staff surgeons scored significantly higher than residents in all mental toughness domains measured. Both groups expressed a desire to improve mental toughness. There are many techniques to improve mental toughness, and further research is needed to assess their effectiveness in surgical training.

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References

2014Handbook of emotion regulation 2011Is There Still a Glass Ceiling for Women in Academic Surgery?2014The Concept of Mental Toughness: Tests of Dimensionality, Nomological Network, and Traitness 2007The development and maintenance of mental toughness: Perceptions of elite performers 2007Mental toughness, optimism, pessimism, and coping among athletes 2009Mental toughness and athletes' use of psychological strategies 2005Relationship between Mental Toughness and Physical Endurance 2004On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace

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