The experiences of German social workers working with refugees

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel J Hagues ◽  
David Cecil ◽  
Ken Stoltzfus
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Personal Attributes ◽  
Cultural Immersion ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
Related Stress

Summary This study examines the experiences of German social workers who provided services to refugees during the refugee crisis of 2014–2016. Interviews were conducted in 2016 in two regions of Germany, Berlin/Brandenburg ( n = 18) and Würzburg (Bavaria; n = 16). Researchers used a semi-structured interview guide complemented by a five-item Likert-type instrument. Questions explored Social Service Provider’s Background and Training, Refugees’ Needs, Role of Faith in Coping, and Recommendations for Universities and Churches and measure Effectiveness of Services, Adequacy of Resources, Benefits to Refugees, and Extent of Work-Related Stress. Findings A thematic analysis indicates social workers feel Germany has effectively responded to paramount refugee needs. Social workers emphasize the importance of learning to see people “eye-to-eye,” cultivating empathy, cross-cultural competence, overcoming personal biases, and self-reflection. Applications Findings suggest social workers who practice with refugees should devote attention to the development of personal attributes to facilitate effective service delivery (e.g. learning to respond empathetically, practicing self-reflection, and treating refugees as equals) and refining practical skills (e.g. study of refugee and immigration law nationally and internationally and development of cross-cultural knowledge and understanding). Suggestions include learning a greeting in another language or understanding gender roles in different cultures. The usefulness of cultural immersion gained by spending time abroad was highlighted; such experiences allow one to cultivate the ability to be open-minded, encourage the development of a capacity to empathize with members of under-represented groups, and prevent the tendency of seeing refugees or migrants as “the Other” ( Said, 1978 ).

scholarly journals Cross-cultural adaptation of the Work Disability Diagnosis Interview (WoDDI) for the Brazilian context

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian Aline Mininel ◽  
Vanda Elisa Andres Felli ◽  
Patrick Loisel ◽  
Maria Helena Palucci Marziale
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Work Disability ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Expert Committee ◽  
Cross Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
Back Translation ◽  
The University

The Work Disability Diagnosis Interview (WoDDI) is a structured interview guide developed by the University of Sherbrooke, Canada to help clinicians detect the most important work-related disability predictors and to identify one or more causes of prolonged absenteeism. This methodological study aims for the cross-cultural adaptation of the WoDDI for the Brazilian context. The method followed international guidelines for studies of this kind, including the following steps: initial translation, synthesis of translations, back translation, evaluation by an expert committee and testing of the penultimate version. These steps allowed obtaining conceptual, semantic, idiomatic, experiential and operational equivalences, in addition to content validity. The results showed that the translated WoDDI is adapted to the Brazilian context and can be used after training.

scholarly journals Psychosocial Risk Factors from the Perception of Women Researchers Belonging to the SNI

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Blanca Estela Aarun Lopez ◽  
Ana Maria Alejandra Herrera Espinosa
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Psychosocial Risk Factors ◽  
Psychosocial Risk ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Family Integration ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Work Family

This investigation had the objective to identify the perception of women holding PhD degrees awarded by the National Researchers System (SNI) regarding five work environment psychosocial risk factors, stress, burnout, mobbing, work-family integration and gender. A qualitative research was performed involving six female researchers working in either public or private institutions. A content analysis technique was used to process the information procured through a semi-structured interview. Work-related stress was found to be part of their lives determined by excess of work with subsequent physical and emotional manifestations; burnout and mobbing were not a constant as not all had experienced them; work-family integration had not been achieved, often resulting in conflict particularly at a certain stage of life when children were young; and, finally, with regard to gender, there were negative stereotypes concerning the role in their field of research.

scholarly journals Factors and effects of work-related stress and burnout on the well-being of social workers in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabulani G. Kheswa
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Work Related Stress ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Value Add

Orientation:Work-related stress and burnout among social workers are on the rise because of extensive workload, job dissatisfaction and exposure to traumatic situations. Therefore, one should determine how they impact the well-being.Research purpose: This study determined the factors and effects of work-related stress and burnout on the well-being of social workers.Motivation for the study: An alarming number of social workers show no compassion towards the clients owing to burnout. Therefore, more research is needed for social workers to enhance their purpose and work engagement.Research approach/design and method: This qualitative study was designed from an interpretivist perspective. Fourteen social workers, aged 35–59 years, from two Department of Social Development and Welfare offices (Alice and King Williams Town) selected through purposive sampling participated in the study. Data were gathered by means of focus group interviews and grounded theory was applied for data analysis.Main findings: The study results confirmed that social workers attributed their work-related stress to lack of resources such as transport, computers and inadequate emotional support from their supervisors. Thus, they demonstrated impaired personal strength and poor human relations.Practical/managerial implications: To achieve commitment and optimism, there should be recruitment of new staff and salary increase for social workers.Contribution/value-add: The study results should provide coping strategies for social workers when faced with secondary traumatic stress.

The lived experiences of social workers working with refugees in Lebanon

2021 ◽  
pp. 146801732110083
Author(s):  
David P Cecil ◽  
Rachel J Hagues ◽  
Rania Mansour ◽  
Aimee Ghanem ◽  
David E Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
Humanitarian Crises ◽  
The Status ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Work Education

Refugee care in Lebanon Understanding the lived experiences of social workers. Summary This mixed methods study examines the status of social work in its response to the refugee crisis within Lebanon, a country with the highest per capita refugee population in the world. Findings A structured interview guide and brief ordinal instrument were administered through interviews ( n = 10) and 10 focus groups ( n = 37) ( N = 47). Participants were recruited with the help of Lebanese social work colleagues. We explored professional roles, greatest refugee needs, social worker coping, and recommendations for refugee social work trainers and educators. Qualitative results are presented as themes with examples of direct quotations. Culturally specific services accurately targeting needs are among the major themes identified. Quantitative results, primarily using descriptive statistics and one Pearson’s r correlation statistic, report on participants’ overall stress levels, sense of effectiveness in refugee practice, and connection of faith/religion to motivation for refugee work. Applications This work is applied as best practice recommendations for social work education and for front-line training of those in social work roles working with refugees in Lebanon. This work also raises awareness about one of the most critical humanitarian crises in history.

Stress among reference library staff in academic and public libraries

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marija Petek
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Reference Library ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Work Related Stress ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Related Stress

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore stress among reference library staff in academic and public libraries in one of the European countries. The study has been conducted to ascertain whether members of the reference staff undergo stress, whether they consider the reference work stressful, how often they are exposed to stress, which situations are most stressful and how they cope with stress in the workplace and in their private lives. Design/methodology/approach A semi-structured interview is applied as a data collection technique so that interviewees are able to express their opinions on stress and to describe stress as an individual experience. A convenience sample of members of the reference library staff in ten academic and ten public libraries is prepared. Findings The reference library staff in the academic and public libraries is aware of stress causing damage to one’s health and work performance. The reference staff in the public libraries is more frequently exposed to stress than those in the academic libraries. The users are considered the main stressor owing to their complex reference questions, vague information needs and requests, wanting information and materials immediately, not following the library rules, etc. Research limitations/implications The sample is small and not representative, including only two types of libraries. The research may serve as a preliminary study, as it offers insights into the work-related stress among the reference staff in the academic and public libraries. Originality/value This is the first research on the stress of the reference library staff in the academic and public libraries in the country. It contributes to the understanding of the work-related stress in the libraries. Identifying stressful situations can help the reference staff and employers take appropriate strategies to cope with stress.

scholarly journals Cross‐cultural impression management: a cultural knowledge audit model

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail Spong ◽  
Caroline Kamau
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Impression Management ◽  
Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
The European Union ◽  
New Host ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Host Culture

PurposeMany people moving into a new culture for work or study do so without prior cross‐cultural training, yet successful cultural adaptation has important ramifications. The purpose of this paper is to focus on cross‐cultural impression management as an element of cultural adaptation. Does cultural adaptation begin by paying strong attention to nonverbal cues in a host culture? How is that attention converted into knowledge, and how do people use such knowledge management during impression management within the new culture?Design/methodology/approachThe method was qualitative. In total, ten international students at an English university were recruited. All originated outside the European Union and each took part in a one‐hour structured interview. The transcripts were analysed through thematic analysis.FindingsInternational students adopted cross‐cultural impression management strategies in order to enhance successful adaptation to the new host culture. Students consciously processed knowledge about nonverbal behaviour norms through everyday interactions. They audited knowledge deficits by detecting differences between the host norms and their home culture's norms. The motives for this included desiring to maximise rewards from situations.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings imply that being in a new culture makes people “high self monitors”. They are more aware than usual about their own and others' nonverbal behaviours. The findings tell us about how cultural adaptation begins.Originality/valueThis appears to be the first in‐depth qualitative research examining cross‐cultural impression management by international students and deducing implications for expatriates.

The impact of setting on work-related stress and performance among Norwegian social workers

1993 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Himle ◽  
Srinika Jayaratne ◽  
Paul A. Thyness
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Related Stress ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

A test of Hofstede's model of culture following his own approach

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Minkov ◽  
Anneli Kaasa
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Management ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Cross Cultural Management ◽  
National Governments

PurposeRecent studies exposed serious issues with Hofstede's popular model of culture, especially his uncertainty avoidance (UA) and masculinity-femininity (MAS–FEM) dimensions. However those studies did not focus on work-related issues as in Hofstede’s research.Design/methodology/approachWe followed Hofstede’s approach to his dimensions more closely than anyone before in a large cross-cultural study. We used data from the nationally representative International Social Survey Program (over 50,000 respondents from 47 countries), measuring work goals and work-related stress in a way similar to Hofstede's.FindingsUA and MAS–FEM, as measured and described by Hofstede, did not replicate. They lack internal consistency and the items that target them are not associated with Hofstede's UA and MAS–FEM indices. Instead, some of those items follow a very different and sound logic, invalidating Hofstede's UA and MAS–FEM theories. Our study provides additional evidence that UA and MAS–FEM are misleading artifacts of Hofstede's IBM database, with no analogues outside IBM. An improved, recently reported version of individualism-collectivism (IDV-COLL) replicated nearly perfectly, solidifying the validity of that dimension of national culture. A revised version of long-term orientation, called flexibility–monumentalism (FLX–MON) also replicated well.Research limitations/implicationsWe discuss lessons for the cross-cultural field, including cross-cultural management, as well as policy-making by national governments, to be drawn from the controversial story of Hofstede's model. We advise a stronger focus on empirical confirmation and replication rather than excessive faith in fascinating, yet unproven theory.Practical implicationsTo avoid further confusion, we advise researchers, consultants and managers to reconsider the use of Hofstede's UA and MAS–FEM and focus on the valid dimensions in the revised Minkov-Hofstede model.Social implicationsA number of national governments recently launched large-scale studies of their national cultures, based on Hofstede's model. The goal of those studies was to involve culture in the design of social and economic development policies. Studies of this kind should be founded on empirically sound models or else they can result in the formulation of flawed policies.Originality/valueThis is the first study of large samples from many nations showing that even when Hofstede's method is followed closely by focusing on work-related issues, UA and MAS–FEM do not emerge from the data, and this is not because of data deficiencies but because the logic of UA and MAS–FEM is demonstrably flawed. Our study also demonstrates new methods for the replication of IDV-COLL and FLX–MON, though without claiming that they are superior to existing ones.

scholarly journals The Dark and the Light Side of the Expatriate’s Cross-Cultural Adjustment: A Novel Framework Including Perceived Organizational Support, Work Related Stress and Innovation

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Giorgi ◽  
Luigi Isaia Lecca ◽  
Antonio Ariza-Montes ◽  
Chiara Di Massimo ◽  
Marcello Campagna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Perceived Organizational Support ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Work Related Stress ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Related Stress

The new context of the Psychology of Sustainability and Sustainable Development has reached the attention of the scientific community in recent years, due to its comprehensive approach aimed at enhancing the sustainability of interpersonal and intrapersonal talent, as well as of groups and communities. In this scenario, research on employee cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) is considered a key theme in human resource management. It is known that psychological support in the host country may alleviate distress and facilitate the integration of the expatriate workers. However, there is a lack of research investigating expatriate adjustment as an antecedent of the perceived organizational support. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship among cross-cultural adjustment (CCA), perception of organizational support (POS), work-related stress (WRS), and innovation, considering these factors as a part of a unique innovative framework. A cross sectional study was performed using a sample of 234 expatriate workers of a multinational organization. Data were collected through a monitoring survey for the assessment of work-related stress risk factors of their expatriate staff. The results showed a positive correlation between CCA, POS, and innovation. On the other hand, a negative correlational effect of CCA and WRS, CCA and POS on WRS, and POS and WRS was found. Finally, POS was found to be a significant antecedent of CCA. These findings have implications for both international human resource management researchers and practitioners.

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