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Exploring the Emotional Experiences and Coping Strategies of Sustainability Change Agents

Sally V. Russell (University of Leeds, UK)
Stephanie Victoria (Managing for Results Coodinator, Executive Office, USA)

Emotions and Negativity

ISBN: 978-1-80117-201-1, eISBN: 978-1-80117-200-4

Publication date: 17 January 2022

Abstract

Purpose: In this chapter we examine the emotional experience and identity of sustainability change agents and advance understanding of their emotion management strategies. We explore how sustainability change agents experience, manage, and respond to the negative emotions that arise in the course of their jobs. Study Design: We took a mixed-method and multimodal approach to answer our research questions. Using a narrative approach, we collected data using in-depth narrative interviews and supplemented this with quantitative measurement of participants' heart rate and sweat response during the interviews. Findings: Our results confirm that sustainability change agency is an emotionally laden profession. Furthermore, we found that sustainability change agents use three different coping mechanisms including emotion-focused coping (EFC) (“rational avoiders”), problem-focused coping (PFC) (“committed go-getters”), and meaning-focused coping (MFC) (“green philosophers”). Originality: Our research shows that sustainability change agents experienced strong negative emotions in relation to their jobs and they employed one of the three coping styles: EFC, PFC, or MFC. We found that MFC was an isolated cognitive appraisal style, rather than a form of EFC. These findings provide a starting point for further work to help sustainability change agents avoid potential burnout and continue to contribute to the future health of the planet while at the same time maintain their personal well-being.

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Citation

Russell, S.V. and Victoria, S. (2022), "Exploring the Emotional Experiences and Coping Strategies of Sustainability Change Agents", Humphrey, R.H., Ashkanasy, N.M. and Troth, A.C. (Ed.) Emotions and Negativity (Research on Emotion in Organizations, Vol. 17), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 35-61. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1746-979120210000017009

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

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