scholarly journals ‘It’s My Secret Space’: The Benefits of Mindfulness for Social Workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 758-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail Kinman ◽  
Louise Grant ◽  
Susan Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Compassion Satisfaction ◽  
Psychological Flexibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Compassion

Abstract Social workers are at high risk of job-related stress that can impair their well-being and professional practice. Although organisational support is a fundamental requirement, it has been argued that social workers need to develop emotional resilience to help them manage the demands of the job. This mixed method study examines the effects of an eight-week mindfulness training course on several resources previously found to underpin resilience in social workers (emotional self-efficacy, psychological flexibility, reflective ability and self-compassion) together with aspects of well-being relevant to the role (compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and perceived stress). Participants’ perceptions of the benefits of mindfulness for their well-being and professional practice are further explored via the content analysis of open-ended questions and semi-structured interviews. Emotional self-efficacy, psychological flexibility and compassion satisfaction increased following the intervention and compassion fatigue and perceived stress were reduced. No significant changes were found in reflective ability and self-compassion. The qualitative data provided greater insight into the potential benefits of mindfulness for the well-being and job performance of social workers and factors that might encourage and discourage its use.

scholarly journals Emotional demands, compassion and mental health in social workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-94
Author(s):  
G Kinman ◽  
L Grant
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Compassion Satisfaction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Emotional Demands

Abstract Background Compassion, described as the act of providing care based on empathy, dignity and respect, is intrinsic to effective health and social care. Although delivering compassionate care has wide-ranging benefits for service users, more insight is needed into its effects on health and social care professionals. The emotional demands of ‘helping’ work can engender compassion fatigue that may impair well-being, whereas compassion satisfaction and feelings of compassion towards the self could be protective. Aims To examine the effects (direct and indirect) of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and self-compassion on mental health in a cohort of social workers. Methods We used validated scales to measure emotional demands, compassion satisfaction and fatigue, and self-compassion and the General Health Questionnaire-12 to assess mental health. We tested the main and moderating effects of emotional demands and the three facets of compassion using hierarchical regression analysis. Results The study sample comprised 306 social workers (79% female). Participants who reported higher levels of compassion satisfaction and self-compassion tended to report better mental health, whereas compassion fatigue was a significant risk factor for well-being. The models explained 44–53% of the variance in mental health symptoms. We found some evidence that compassion satisfaction and self-compassion buffer the negative effects of emotional demand on mental health, contributing 2 and 3%, respectively, to the incremental variance. Conclusions Our findings suggest that evidence-based interventions are needed to reduce compassion fatigue and enhance compassion satisfaction and self-compassion in social care work. We consider ways to accomplish this using targeted interventions.

scholarly journals Assessing Secondary Trauma, Compassion Satisfaction, and Burnout – Implications for Professional Education for Asian-American Social Workers

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenny Kwong
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Secondary Trauma ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Compassion Satisfaction ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Self Compassion

The present study explored work-related stress and career experiences of Asian-American social workers and assessed if their demographic characteristics, beliefs and orientations (altruism, idealism, and self-compassion), and work-related stressors might impact their professional quality of life (secondary trauma, compassion satisfaction, and burnout) and job-related health problems.  Two hundred and eight (208) Asian social workers and students participated in a comprehensive online survey by providing basic demographic and work-related information and completing a set of standardized scales to assess their career experiences and work-related stress, as well as their psychological and physical well-being.  Bivariate analyses and stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to estimate models that best predicted their experiences of secondary trauma, compassion satisfaction, burnout, perceived stress, and job-related health problems.  The findings showed that higher perceived stress was associated with higher secondary trauma, burnout, job-related health problems, and lower compassion satisfaction.  Work-related problems/stressors emerged as a very strong predictor of burnout and job-related health problems.  Higher self-compassion was related to higher compassion satisfaction and lower secondary trauma and burnout.  Self-compassion was found to be a very strong predictor of perceived stress.  Implications of the findings for professional education and career development for Asian-American social workers were discussed.

Social worker characteristics associated with perceived meaning in life

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Itzick ◽  
Maya Kagan ◽  
Menachem Ben-Ezra
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Compassion Satisfaction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Social Work Educators ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Worker Characteristics

Summary Meaning in life is an important element in the context of the workplace. The purpose of this study was to explore how certain factors, namely: subjective well-being, professional quality of life (compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, burnout), loneliness, personal work-related subjection to violence, fear of being subjected to violence, age, parental status, and marital status can predict meaning in life among social workers in Israel. An extensive battery of online questionnaires was administered to 501 participants. A hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the association between a series of independent variables and meaning in life among social workers. Findings The findings suggest that age, subjective well-being, compassion satisfaction and fear of being personally subjected to violence were positively associated with meaning in life. However, loneliness and burnout were negatively associated with meaning in life. The other variables were not significantly associated with meaning in life. Applications Social work educators and managers must consider the importance of meaning in life when developing social care curricula and policies. Social workers must be aware of the importance of enhancing their sense of meaning in life for increasing their job satisfaction as well as improving the service provided to their clients.

scholarly journals Understanding procrastination: A case of a study skills course

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Hailikari ◽  
N. Katajavuori ◽  
H. Asikainen
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Study Skills ◽  
Psychological Flexibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Study Skills Course ◽  
Being There ◽  
Academic Self Efficacy

AbstractProcrastination is consistently viewed as problematic to academic success and students’ general well-being. There are prevailing questions regarding the underlying and maintaining mechanisms of procrastination which are yet to be learnt. The aim of the present study was to combine different ways to explain procrastination and explore how students’ time and effort management skills, psychological flexibility and academic self-efficacy are connected to procrastination as they have been commonly addressed separately in previous studies. The data were collected from 135 students who participated in a voluntary time management and well-being course in autumn 2019. The results showed that students’ ability to organize their time and effort has the strongest association with procrastination out of the variables included in the study. Psychological flexibility also has a strong individual role in explaining procrastination along with time and effort management skills. Surprisingly, academic self-efficacy did not have a direct association with procrastination. Interestingly, our findings further suggest that time and effort management and psychological flexibility are closely related and appear to go hand in hand and, thus, both need to be considered when the aim is to reduce procrastination. The implications of the findings are further discussed.

Team Managers in Local Social Service Departments in Israel as Bottom-Up Social Policy-Makers

2021 ◽  
pp. 324-345
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychosocial Services ◽  
Service Departments ◽  
New Policies

Following on Felice Perlmutter's work on the managerial role of social workers in social services, this article contributes to the still limited knowledge on the role of social workers in middle-management positions in formulating new policies `on the ground`. The study expands knowledge about policies determined by team managers in local social service departments in Israel. It occurs in the nexus between street-level bureaucracy, professionalism and managerial positions. Semi-structured interviews with 28 team managers revealed that they formulated `new` policies with regard to the provision of psychosocial services and material assistance (who gets what, when and how). This occurs when they resist official policy, when it is vague or non-existent. Most of their policy decisions are not documented and draw upon consultations with colleagues and superiors though not with clients. The team managers perceive these policies as a means for achieving balance between clients' well-being and budgetary constraints. Yet their decisions lack transparency, are decided upon without public discourse and may lead to greater inequity between clients

The marketplace, mental well-being, and me: Exploring self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-compassion in consumer coping

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 ◽  
pp. 410-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane E. Machin ◽  
Natalie Ross Adkins ◽  
Elizabeth Crosby ◽  
Justine Rapp Farrell ◽  
Ann M. Mirabito
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Mental Well Being

Social workers implementing social assistance in Spain: reshaping poverty in a familialistic welfare state

2019 ◽  
pp. 169-184
Author(s):  
Sergio Sánchez Castiñeira
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Assistance ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Grey Zone ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Emotional Approach

This case study analyses some of the processes that are restructuring public social assistance in the inequality regime that emerges from the recent economic recession in Spain. It shows how social workers turn what could be an inefficient public program into an active social policy through a cognitive, normative and emotional approach. A highly qualified and vocational workforce compensates meagre institutional support and lack of opportunities by instilling in the new poor new knowledge, abilities and attitudes to access basic informal resources from the local context. However, social workers’ agency could eventually contribute to confine clients within the material and symbolic limits of an expanding grey zone with scarce opportunities and diminished well-being, between inclusion and exclusion. This research is based on semi-structured interviews (17) and focus groups (8).

How Can We Enhance the Sense of Self-Efficacy in Epilepsy Individual Responses from 2 Qualitative Case Reports

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Michaelis ◽  
Christina Niedermann ◽  
Bettina Berger
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Focal Epilepsy ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Psychotherapeutic Interventions

Background: Epilepsy is a serious, common and chronic neurological condition characterized by an increased disposition to suffer occasional seizures. Psychological interventions may enhance the well-being of individuals with epilepsy. So far, no qualitative study has investigated the complex effects of psychotherapeutic interventions in epilepsy. Methods: This study examined the questions as to if and how the participation in a patient-centered 6-month resource-oriented mindfulness-based intervention would enhance an individual's well-being and sense of self-efficacy. Pre- and post-intervention semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 9 participants. Qualitative data analysis (Mayring) in an inter-professional group was combined with the evaluation of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31. The case reports follow the CAse REport Guidelines for Anthroposophic Art Therapies (CARE-AAT). To show the diverse nature of individual intervention objectives, we chose the single case study format, contrasting 2 participants with diagnosed focal epilepsy. Results: Pre-intervention deductive and inductive outcome categories revealed high levels of stress regarding personal seizure experience and loss of autonomy, for both participants. Post-intervention interviews consist of increased seizure-related self-efficacy and self-awareness: while minimizing the debilitating impact of the seizures on her life was relevant to Iris, Carl developed a personalized aura interruption technique. Conclusions: These qualitative case analyses suggest that enhanced psychological well-being and even positive medical results may be achieved when epilepsy care focuses on the wishes that are most meaningful to the individual. The possibility of improving the quantitative evaluation of the effects of psychotherapeutic interventions needs to be explored.

scholarly journals Dissatisfaction in Child Welfare and Its Role in Predicting Self-Efficacy and Satisfaction at Work: A Mixed-Method Research

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Berlanda ◽  
Monica Pedrazza ◽  
Elena Trifiletti ◽  
Marta Fraizzoli
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
North East ◽  
Professional Self

Child welfare organizations are increasingly concerned with challenges emerging from the assessment of social workers’ dissatisfaction. This type of service represents the work area where social workers are at greater risk of burnout. Although several studies account for high social workers’ burnout scores, they do not systematically dwell upon its sources and roots. In addition, scholars point out that a considerable number of work related issues may be perceived both as a source of dissatisfaction and satisfaction. We assume that there is a need to deepen the understanding of how dissatisfaction’s sources may exert an impact on both personal job satisfaction and professional self-efficacy, which are positively associated with well-being at work. The present mixed-method research has two aims: (1) the extensive exploration, applying qualitative methodology, of the perceived sources of dissatisfaction; (2) the attempt to identify the extent to which those sources predict job satisfaction and professional self-efficacy. It is our purpose to further explore which differences emerge by age. The research involved child welfare workers, that is, SWs employed in public child welfare agencies in the North East of Italy. Results show the predominant role of interpersonal trust and mutual respect, as main predictors of both professional self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Practical implications of findings are discussed.

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