PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND BEHAVIORAL ADJUSTMENT: PROMOTING WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE AND AT HOME

As a developmental psychologist and In the context of my roles as Chair of the U.S. National Committee for Psychological Science of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and as Director of the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University, I will focus on a range of risk and protective factors related to psychological well-being and behavioral adjustment, as well as issues related to work-family balance. I will describe stress responses, tips for managing stress, and ways to promote resilience, especially in the face of stress that is uncontrollable or unpredictable. I will provide an overview of strategies, such as prioritizing self-care, setting appropriate boundaries, and mobilizing support networks, to avoid being overwhelmed by competing work and family responsibilities. I will summarize recent psychological research on mindfulness and gratitude, which can promote happiness, increase life satisfaction, reduce depression, and improve other aspects of both physical and mental health. Rather than delving into any of these topics in depth, the goal of this presentation will be to provide geoscientists with a breadth of ideas from psychology to promote wellness in the workplace and at home.