Background

The covid 19 pandemic has been globally taxing. The city of Melbourne has surpassed Buenos Aires and has gained the world record title for the time most spent in lockdown. In total, the people of Melbourne have endured 260 days over six lockdowns between March 2020 – October 2021. As such, the widespread economic toll the state has faced is devasting. Moreover, the latest research indicates that approximately 17% of Australians across varying industries experienced mental distress in April 2020 (University of Melbourne, 2020).

Aims

To examine the impact of self-efficacy and optimism on Melburnian business owners post traumatic growth, thus understanding the varying degrees of both personal and business success post pandemic.

Method

This study utilised a correlational design to explore the relationship between general self-efficacy, optimism, and post-traumatic growth. Using Qualtrics, a survey link was created and shared via social platforms to recruit participants. Quantitative methodologies that were used to support this analysis included descriptive statistics, reliability, correlations, and regression.

Results

Correlations demonstrated a significant positive relationship between general self-efficacy and post-traumatic growth, and age and gender also contributing to this positive relationship. Optimism demonstrated a markedly weak association with post-traumatic growth. Training programs can be designed and implemented in the workplace to support the growth and development of self-efficacy and optimism in times of crisis.

Conclusion

Based on the quantitative analysis of this research that aimed to investigate if self-efficacy and optimism support post-traumatic growth, it can be concluded that general self-efficacy, age, and gender contribute significantly to an individual’s personal growth after a traumatic event. The current findings are consistent with prior research, and results indicate that general self-efficacy and post-traumatic growth have a significant linear relationship and that there is a gender difference in post-traumatic growth. Evidently, it is shown through statistical analysis that there is a significant relationship between females and general self-efficacy, but no significant relationship between males and general self-efficacy.