title: Resilience in work-related stress among female sex workers in Hong Kong.
abstract: The literature on positive psychology and resilience demonstrates that individuals utilize their personal strengths and environmental resources to facilitate positive adaptation. Using a qualitative approach, we investigated how these frameworks operated as self-protective strategies for female sex workers to maintain their psychological and physical well-being under stressful socioeconomic and work-related conditions. Twenty-three female sex workers in Hong Kong participated in in-depth interviews. We used the grounded theory approach for data analysis. The informants reported negative feelings in response to financial burden, clients' demands, threats to physical health, and stigma. Some female sex workers showed their resilience by being able to rationalize their role, believe their ability to make a change in life, and stay optimistic. They adopted strategies including emotional regulation and acceptance of their responsibility and limits to cope with stressful life events. The results help us understand the role of positive psychology and resilience in this vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China winnie.yuen@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Winnie Wing-Yan
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.affiliation: The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: William Chi-Wai
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holroyd
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Catherine So-Kum
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology*; D013240:Stereotyping; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: coping and adaptation; mental health and illness; research, qualitative; resilience; sex workers; women’s health