AQR announces global launch of toughness test to beat work place stress

The worldís first occupational measure of ìmental toughnessî ñ MTQ48 - is being launched across the globe by a UK firm. The launch will result in the measure being available in 21 countries across the globe in 2007.

Mental Toughness refers to an individualís resilience and inner drive to succeed, particularly when they find themselves in stressful or challenging circumstances.

AQR Ltd, one of the worldís leading developers of psychometric tests has created MTQ48 with the expert support of Dr Peter Clough, Head of Psychology at Hull University.

Doug Strycharczyk, Managing Director of AQR, said: ìEmployees at all levels have to work to meet increasing demanding goals and targets, handling several pressures at one time, whilst responding to interruptions and sudden changes in expectation. The results generated by MTQ48 enable employers to develop strategies and tactics to help organisations and individuals perform under pressure ñ improving overall well-being in the work place and ultimately, creating a better working environment.î

MTQ48 assesses the mental toughness of managers and employees alike. By measuring four core components; control, challenge, commitment and confidence, MTQ48 provides guidelines to managers and coaches on how they can develop the mental toughness of their team.

Importantly, MTQ48 can be used in the recruitment process to find people who are most suited to the role, reducing the risk of incidences of feeling stressed in the first place.

The UK launch of MTQ48 in 2003 has resulted in a major increase in the productivity of employees in both the public and private sector, with organisations such as the Highways Agency, Connexions, major Local Authorities, Decoma and the Oscar Mayer Group reporting a greater ability to deal with stress in their working environments and a significant improvement to key aspects of performance.

Dr. Peter Clough, Head of Psychology at the University of Hull commented: ìSurveys and research reveal that more and more people feel that they are stressed. However this may reflect that people now are generally less able to deal with stressors than in the past. MTQ48 offers a way of finding out how people cope, or perhaps more interestingly, why they do not cope ñ and this in turn means that we can help people to develop their ability to deal with stressors.

ìAQR has developed MTQ48 to measure peopleís reactions when faced with different stressors, including work place pressures, multi-tasking, physical and mental fatigue and social pressures. The fact that this measure is so valid and meaningful in the work place means that MTQ48 enables employers to select the right people or to develop those who are struggling with the demands placed upon them.î