Vicarious Trauma in Social Workers: The Role of Trauma History, Social Support, and Years of Experience

Burnout is progressively seen as an issue in the field of social work however there is limited knowledge about moderating influence of social support on burnout and the mental health of social workers. The present study intended to explore the impact of burnout on mental health and the connection between burnout and the mental health of social workers. Additionally, it also investigates the moderating effects of social support in this relationship. For the study, 300 subjects (188 males, 112 females) were approached by using the purposive sampling technique. The results of the study revealed that burnout has an impact on mental health and there is a significant positive correlation between burnout and mental health. Findings showed a weak effect of social support on the relationship between burnout and mental health. Moreover, the study revealed no gender differences in burnout, social support, and mental health. The outcomes involve a wide scope of interventions pointed toward advancing mental health among social workers for policymakers.

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The role of social support for social workers engaged in preventing radicalization and violent extremism

Nordic Social Work Research ◽

10.1080/2156857x.2020.1806102 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Håvard Haugstvedt

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Workers ◽

Violent Extremism

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Psychological distress among social workers

Journal of Social Work ◽

10.1177/1468017320949447 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 146801732094944

Author(s):

Maya Kagan ◽

Lee GreenblattKimron

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Social Workers ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Professional Experience ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Academic Level ◽

Support Mechanisms ◽

Structured Questionnaire

Summary The purpose of the current study was to examine the moderating role of social support in the association between self-efficacy and psychological distress among social workers. The data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 726 social workers in Israel. Selected variables, found in previous studies to correlate with psychological distress, served in the current study as covariates: gender, years of professional experience, self-rated health, self-defined burnout, and self-reported loneliness. Findings The hierarchical multiple regression revealed that social workers who had more years of professional experience, better self-rated health, lower levels of burnout and of self-reported loneliness, reported lower levels of psychological distress. Higher levels of self-efficacy were found to be associated with lower levels of psychological distress only among social workers with lower levels of perceived social support. Application In the absence of adequate social support, self-efficacy can be an important resource for social workers, since it is related to lower levels of psychological distress. Hence, it is recommended that action be taken to promote awareness and enhance social workers’ self-efficacy at the academic level, from the initial stages of their socialization into the profession and at their work places. Also, action should be taken on the policy level to provide assistance with developing and maintaining social workers’ support mechanisms.

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Reducing burnout, vicarious trauma, and secondary traumatic stress through investigating purpose in life in social workers

Journal of Social Work ◽

10.1177/1468017319853057 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 620-638

Author(s):

Jonathan Singer ◽

Caroline Cummings ◽

Sarah A Moody ◽

Lorraine T Benuto

Keyword(s):

Social Workers ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽

Vicarious Trauma ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Purpose In Life ◽

The United States ◽

Years Of Experience ◽

Protective Services ◽

Hours Worked

Summary Social workers fulfill vital roles, servicing clients from vulnerable populations and maintaining their welfare. As a result of frequent interaction with clients who have often experienced trauma, these workers are susceptible to experiencing burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma. This study aimed to identify if purpose in life is a protective factor for adult/elder protective services (AEPS) and child protective services (CPS) workers. A comprehensive search of AEPS and CPS agencies resulted in more than 500 agencies throughout the United States. Three multiple regressions were run, with purpose in life as the independent variable, controlling for social workers’ years of experience, ethnicity, average of number of hours worked per week. Findings A sample of 292 participants ranging in age from 18 to 58 years of age, with a mean age of 42.03(12.34), participated in this study. Of the 292 social workers, 126 reported being CPS workers and 166 reported being AEPS workers. In all three linear regressions, higher purpose in life resulted in lower rates of vicarious trauma ( F(3, 263)=10.364, p<.001), secondary traumatic stress ( F(3, 263)=16.548, p<.001), and burnout ( F(3, 263)= 23.912, p<.001) when controlling for number of hours worked per week and years of experience. The amount of variance explained by these models ranged from 11 to 21%. Post hoc correlations between study variables were conducted, including the association between purpose in life and CS. Applications This study provides evidence necessary to warrant an intervention for protective services workers, specifically targeted toward increasing purpose in life.

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“HIV/AIDS Isn’t Here”

Canadian Social Work Review ◽

10.7202/1038699ar ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 203-228

Author(s):

Naomi Hyba

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Workers ◽

Sense Of Belonging ◽

Social Groups ◽

Hiv Status ◽

Community Programming ◽

Peer Social Support ◽

Residential Camp

In this case study we examine the experiences of campers and volunteers at a one-week residential camp for individuals and families affected by HIV in Canada. The data presented was gathered during the camp session held in July 2013, and was derived from 26 interviews with campers and volunteers and from 40 self-administered surveys. This data highlights five themes: the camp as a “family” with a strong sense of community; a sense of belonging not experienced elsewhere due to stigma; the crucial role of peer social support; the camp as the intersection of diverse cultural and social groups; and reduced significance of one’s HIV status in the camp environment. This study recommends that social workers, whose caseloads include HIV-affected individuals or families, make greater use of such camps -- for example, systematic referrals, to boost social support. This article also calls on social workers to invest themselves in this type of community programming in order to enhance the quality and quantity of services offered.

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The Role of Social Workers in the Elimination of Poverty in Lithuania

Socialinė teorija empirija politika ir praktika ◽

10.15388/stepp.2001.0.8507 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 110-115

Author(s):

Vytautas Žiukas

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Work ◽

Social Workers ◽

Support System ◽

Social Solidarity ◽

Final Part ◽

Social Support System

The goal of the paper is to present the role of social workers in the elimination of poverty in Lithuania. The context and establishment of strategy to eliminate poverty is presented in the fist part. The development of social support system gets special attention. It is argued the importance of social work in the elimination of poverty. The principles securing achievement and maintenance of social solidarity through social workers’ co-operation with their professional organisations are sketched in the final part.

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PERAN PEKERJA SOSIAL DALAM PENANGANAN ANAK AUTIS

Share Social Work Journal ◽

10.24198/share.v7i2.15683 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 38

Author(s):

Dessy Hasanah S ◽

Meilanny Budiarti Santoso ◽

Yessi Rachmasari

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Workers ◽

Social Environment ◽

Autistic Disorder ◽

Developmental Disorders ◽

Holistic Approach ◽

Children With Autism ◽

The People ◽

The Social

ABSTRAKAutisme adalah salah satu kelainan psikologis dan perkembangan yang dialami oleh anak. Perkembangan yang dimaksud bukan secara fisik namun lebih kepada kemampuan untuk berkomunikasi, bersosialisasi sekaligus perilaku. Gejala autis yang sangat menonjol adalah sikap anak yang cenderung tidak mempedulikan lingkungan dan orang-orang di sekitarnya, seolah menolak berkomunikasi dan berinteraksi, serta seakan hidup dalam dunianya sendiri. Penanganan yang intensif dan terpadu untuk anak autis disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan anak agar pelaksanaanya dapat memberikan hasil yang maksimal. Suatu layanan yang diberikan bagi anak autis harus disesuaikan dengan metode yang tepat sehingga dapat di terapkan secara langsung. Upaya untuk menyikapi permasalahan tersebut. Sehingga, dibutuhkan penanganan untuk anak autis yaitu peran dari professional yang terlibat. Dalam penanganan anak autis dibutuhkan profesi yang memiliki keterampilan dan pengetahuan di bidangnya. Salah satunya yaitu peran dari pekerja sosial dan profesi lainnya yang berkolaborasi dengan pekerja sosial, Pekerja sosial dalam upaya penanganan anak autis dapat melakukan assessment dan intervensi terhadap permasalahan anak autis tersebut dengan menggunakan pendekatan secara holistic dengan lingkungan sosialnya dan dengan pendekatan biopsikosial. Peran pekerja sosial juga bersama-sama dengan keluarga anak autis tersebut dapat memberikan dukungan sosial dan memotivasi anak dengan gangguan autis tersebut.ABSTRACTAutism is one of the psychological and developmental disorders experienced by children. The development is not physical, but rather the ability to communicate, socialize well as behavior. Symptoms of autism that really stood out was the attitude of children who tend not to care about the environment and the people around him, as if refusing to communicate and interact, as well as living in his own world. Handling intensive and integrated for children with autism tailored to the needs of children so that implementation can provide maximum results. A service provided for children with autism should be tailored to the exact method that can be applied directly. Efforts to address these problems. Thus, needed treatment for children with autism is the role of the professionals involved. In the treatment of autistic children who have the necessary professional skills and knowledge in the field. One of them is the role of social workers and other professionals who collaborate with social workers, social workers in handling children with autism can do an assessment and intervention for children with autism are problems with using a holistic approach with the social environment and the biopsikosial approach. The role of social workers also together with families of children with autism can provide social support and motivate the children with autistic disorder.

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Testing the Strain Theory of Suicide – The Moderating Role of Social Support

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000604 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 82-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bob Lew ◽

Ksenia Chistopolskaya ◽

Yanzheng Liu ◽

Mansor Abu Talib ◽

Olga Mitina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Online Survey ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Strain Theory ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Strains ◽

Moderating Role

Abstract. Background: According to the strain theory of suicide, strains, resulting from conﬂicting and competing pressures in an individual's life, are hypothesized to precede suicide. But social support is an important factor that can mitigate strains and lessen their input in suicidal behavior. Aims: This study was designed to assess the moderating role of social support in the relation between strain and suicidality. Methods: A sample of 1,051 employees were recruited in Beijing, the capital of China, through an online survey. Moderation analysis was performed using SPSS PROCESS Macro. Social support was measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and strains were assessed with the Psychological Strains Scale. Results: Psychological strains are a good predictor of suicidality, and social support, a basic need for each human being, moderates and decreases the effects of psychological strains on suicidality. Limitations: The cross-sectional survey limited the extent to which conclusions about causal relationships can be drawn. Furthermore, the results may not be generalized to the whole of China because of its diversity. Conclusion: Social support has a tendency to mitigate the effects of psychological strains on suicidality.

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Social Support, Emotional Intelligence, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000185 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 31-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Nicole L. Hofman ◽

Austin M. Hahn ◽

Christine K. Tirabassi ◽

Raluca M. Gaher

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Emotional Intelligence ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Events ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Exposure to traumatic events and the associated risk of developing Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is a significant and overlooked concern in the college population. It is important for current research to identify potential protective factors associated with the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms unique to this population. Emotional intelligence and perceived social support are two identified protective factors that influence the association between exposure to traumatic events and PTSD symptomology. The current study examined the mediating role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. Participants included 443 trauma-exposed university students who completed online questionnaires. The results of this study indicated that social support mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and reported PTSD symptoms. Thus, emotional intelligence is significantly associated with PTSD symptoms and social support may play an integral role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD. The current study is the first to investigate the role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. These findings have important treatment and prevention implications with regard to PTSD.

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