Date of Award
3-2-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
First Advisor
Topeka Singleton
Second Advisor
Lori Sanchez
Committee Members
Allison Paolini
Call Number
ISBN 9798273347755
Abstract
This study presented a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between resilience, as measured by the Resilience in Midlife (RIM) scale, and self-perceived leadership effectiveness, as measured by the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI Self) scale, among a sample of 24 academic leaders from University A in the Midwest and University B in the Midsouth, guided by two research questions. The conceptual framework for this study included Positive Psychology Theory, Transformational Leadership Theory, and Resilience Theory. A quantitative correlation approach was employed, which aimed to explore the relationship between resilience, defined as the capacity to persevere and adapt in the face of adversity, in relation to self-perceived leadership effectiveness, defined as a leader’s continuous capacity for self-reflection leading to heightened awareness of leadership capabilities, among academic leaders in higher education. The problem addressed centered on the inadequate recognition of resilience as a key leadership trait linked to the high turnover of academic leaders in their roles, reflecting unique and continually evolving financial, operational, and strategic pressures. This study offered key insights highlighting resilience’s role in overcoming challenges and empowering others to take action to solve problems, providing a strategy to enhance academic leadership effectiveness and institutional outcomes while reducing turnover through targeted leadership development programs, certifications, and real-world collaboration among academic leader groups. The results for the first research question showed a non-significant correlation between total resilience and overall self-perceived leadership effectiveness. For the second research question, significant correlations were observed between resilience and challenging the process and enabling others to act. Future researchers might pursue a larger reinvestigation of this study, research this topic qualitatively, or explore the relationship between leadership, resilience, optimism, positivity, and core values to discover the traits and behaviors that influence resilience, perseverance, self-leadership, and self-efficacy. The importance of this study was to establish a vital foundation for the relationship between resilience and self-perceived leadership effectiveness to enrich academic leadership effectiveness in higher education, paving the way for strengthening institutional stability and success for future generations.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Richards, Jessica Ann, "An Exploration of the Relationship Between Resilience and Self-Perceived Leadership Effectiveness in Academic Leaders in Higher Education" (2026). Student Theses and Dissertations. 1116.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/1116
