Posttraumatic Growth

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selena T. Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Change ◽  
Cultural Aspects

Trauma literature has seen a paradigm shift from pathology to embracing positive trajectories. Posttraumatic growth (PTG), defined as a positive psychological change resulting from a struggle with traumatic or life-changing events, may occur in a variety of populations and events. This entry, therefore, aims to increase our understanding of PTG. The entry begins with the conceptualization of PTG, followed by a discussion of protective factor associations, measures, and psychometric priorities. Nuanced attention is given to global translations and cultural aspects. The entry then presents debates about the challenges, controversy, and biases, as well as an overview of the empirical literature. The entry concludes with PTG contributions for social-work practice and pedagogy, together with recommendations for future research.

CROSS-CULTURAL ADOPTION IN SOUTH AFRICA: NEW DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-398
Author(s):  
Cyndy Snyder
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Adoption Research ◽  
The Impact

This article reviews the literature on cross-cultural adoption in South Africa and provides new insights and research questions to help social work practitioners and researchers better understand the impact of cross-cultural adoption for adoptees. The article compares the context of race and adoption research in the United States and South Africa, paying particular attention to strengths and limitations of research studies from both countries. In this paper, I argue that race and racism shape the experiences of black cross-cultural adoptees, and therefore adoptees’ ability to navigate such circumstances should be a central focus when assessing the impact of cross-cultural adoption. While much research from both countries has focused on the experiences and perspectives of parents and social workers, future research should focus on the adoptee perspective. Practical implications for those involved in social work practice and social services in the South African context are also addressed.

A Scoping Review of Contemporary Social Work Practice With Veterans

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-53
Author(s):  
Katharine J. Bloeser ◽  
Margaret Bausman
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Publication Type ◽  
The Social

Objective: Social work served U.S. veterans and service members throughout its history as a profession. Social workers continue to support the physical and psychological health of veterans in both the public and private sectors. This scoping review sought to characterize the social work research on practice with veterans. Methods: Both academic sources and gray literature were reviewed. Results: A total of 536 items were reviewed to determine methodology, sample, social work’s role in the research, content area, and publication type. The largest category of research methodology was descriptive studies (50%). An additional 9% of studies were experimental in nature. Most of the peer-reviewed empirical literature came from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs settings. A slight majority, 58% of peer-reviewed articles, identified a social worker as an author. The most frequently used key words in social work journals reflected mental health (33%), most focused on post-traumatic stress disorder (41%). Conclusions: Characterizing the social work literature continues to be a challenge. Social workers practice in a variety of arenas with veterans and should be afforded opportunities to engage in research especially endeavors that focus on marginalized populations of veterans.

scholarly journals Exploring Challenges Faced by Students as they Transition to Social Justice Work in the “Real World”: Implications for Social Work

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 372-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Richards-Schuster ◽  
Mary C. Ruffolo ◽  
Kerri Leyda Nicoll ◽  
Catherine Distelrath ◽  
Joseph Galura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Real World ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
The Real ◽  
University Campuses ◽  
School Of Social Work

For students who are actively engaged in social justice efforts on their college/university campuses, the transition from a relatively easy platform for engagement to the “real world” can pose significant challenges and create new realities for negotiation. Little is known, however, about the nature of these transitions into post-graduate social justice experiences. Drawing on an open-ended survey of recent graduates (92 respondents, 50% response rate) from a social justice minor in a school of social work, we explore the ways in which respondents described their transitions into social justice work, focusing on a set of key challenges that emerged from our analysis and reflecting on the implications of these challenges for social work practice and future research. Understanding some of the challenges in making this transition will help social work and non-profit administrators to better support this population’s future volunteer, service, and employment needs.

Promoting Actively Aging: Advancing a Framework for Social Work Practice with Older Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbra Teater ◽  
Jill Chonody
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Theories Of Aging ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Gerontological Social Workers

The United States is experiencing a growing aging population, and the profession will need to increase the number of gerontological social workers. However, the social work profession has been relatively quiet in the debate on theories of aging as well as the development of approaches to social work practice with older adults. This article aims to further advance social work practice by critiquing existing aging theories or frameworks against social work values and ethical principles and by presenting the development of actively aging as a framework to guide practice with older adults. Actively aging considers the interplay between individuals' experiences; their meanings of aging; and their social, environmental, political, and cultural structures. The five principles of actively aging are presented, as well as considerations for future research and theory development on aging.

scholarly journals COPING, RESILIENCE AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH: ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-35
Author(s):  
Glynnis Dykes
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Life Lessons

This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of third-year social work students at a selected university in South Africa regarding the effects of having endured adverse childhood experiences. Findings showed the beginnings of positive life lessons that can emerge from having endured adverse experiences. Findings also confirmed the process of coping with these experiences that included outcomes of resilience and burgeoning posttraumatic growth. Implications are discussed especially regarding the place and development of coping, resilience and posttraumatic growth in social work education and social work practice. Recommendations include the professional use of self and self-awareness through mindfulness teaching practices.

scholarly journals The role of animal-assisted interventions in anti-oppressive social work practice.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Marie Legge
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Service Users ◽  
The Relationship

This study explores the role that animal-assisted interventions (AAI) can play in antioppressive social work practice. A review of relevant literature has shows that while AAI have been demonstrated over time to have many benefits for service users, these types of interventions remain neglected by social work scholarship, and the relationship between AAI and antioppressive practice (AOP) has yet to be explored through research. Engaging a critical, AOP, and ecofeminist approach, this study uses qualitative methodology to explore the research question, “What role can animal-assisted interventions play in anti-oppressive social work practice?” Ultimately, this study confirms that AAI practitioners have found their approaches to be congruent with an anti-oppressive approach to social work practice. Data and themes which support this finding, as well as implications for the field of social work and recommendations for future research, are explored.

scholarly journals Social Work in a Developing Continent: The Case of Africa

10.18060/223 ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Chitereka
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Qualified Personnel ◽  
The One ◽  
Development Paradigm

Social work is a professional approach to ameliorating social problems. It is generally understood as a helping profession that utilizes professionally qualified personnel who use its knowledge base to help people tackle their social problems (Mupedziswa, 2005). Nevertheless, in developing countries, social work is a relatively young profession which was influenced by colonialism in its formation. The type of social work practiced in these countries largely mirrors the one that is being practiced in Britain, France and Portugal among others. Utilizing the continent of Africa as a case study, this article argues that social work practice in Africa tends to be curative or remedial in nature and is not adequately addressing people’s problems. It therefore proposes a paradigm shift from remedial to a social development paradigm if it is to make an impact in the 21st century.

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