Asian Social Work and Policy Review最新文献

In this qualitative study, we examine the experiences of nine South Korean individuals impacted by the humidifier disinfectant scandal, a significant social disaster that resulted in the loss or health deterioration of their pets. Although humidifier disinfectants were marketed since 1994, it was not until 2011 that the South Korean government acknowledged their detrimental effects and proposed a ban. This study fills a research gap by focusing on pet owners, a substantial yet understudied demographic affected by this disaster. Our analysis reveals that the prevailing legal culture, demanding victims to substantiate their eligibility for compensation, not only intensified their trauma but also prolonged their grieving process, contributing to complex bereavement. The initial ambiguity regarding their pets' deaths fostered feelings of regret, which, upon realizing the true cause, transformed into profound guilt akin to moral injury. Based on these findings, the study offers policy recommendations to address such complex emotional repercussions in social disaster contexts.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on both classroom instruction and practical learning within Social Work Departments in Bangladesh. This research took two state universities in Bangladesh as case studies, using a qualitative methodology. Researchers conducted 10 Key Informant Interviews, with professors and field supervisors, 20 in-depth interviews with Master of Social Sciences (MSS) students and two Focus Group Discussions with MSS students. During the pandemic, University faculty experimented with virtual classrooms, pre-recorded lectures, and online chat forums to interact with postgraduate students. However, these approaches were not completely successful due to the limitations of digital infrastructure at the Universities and at students' residences. Shortcomings in virtual education included technological barriers, insufficient access to educational resources, and an unusual mental health situation for many students. Student practica were difficult to organize, due to technological barriers, restricted field placement opportunities, disruption in client interaction, and community outreach, interruptions in fieldwork and data collection, as well as insufficient faculty supervision and support. Universities ought to take proactive measures to integrate technology into teaching and learning in normal times so that both can continue during public health emergencies without adding educational crisis to the general state of emergency.

Unemployment is widely recognized to cause a variety of psychosocial problems that might have a harmful impact on mental health. The study looks into the psychological well-being of youth and their personal experiences with the unemployment. This article draws on primary sources to provide an in-depth understanding of the effects unemployment among youth in Anantnag, Kashmir. The primary data include narratives, which are a qualitative approach that specifically emphasizes the stories of those who were unemployed. To collect the data, a demographic form and an interview guide were used. An unstructured interview schedule was employed with 25 youths with ages ranging from 21 to 32 years. Data were collected from July to August 2023. Participants were selected using the snowball sampling method. All of the participants were from Anantnag, the district in Jammu and Kashmir. As per the findings of the study, unemployment causes youth to feel worthless, lose self-identity, feel shame, and experience stress. Given the possible detrimental effects of youth unemployment, efforts should be made to increase psychological support for unemployed youth to address mental health issues.

There is a growing concern towards the risk of cyber violence among young digital natives. This study tested the applicability of routine activity theory in the cyber domain using a national sample of 2228 South Korean adolescents. Latent profile analysis was used to identify the conditions of the motivated offender, suitable target, and capable guardian within the online context. Low-risk, detached norm, and comprehensive-risk profiles emerged. Binary logistic regression indicated that adolescents in the comprehensive-risk profile were most likely to experience cyber violence, compared to other profiles. The risk of perpetration was greater for the low-risk profile than the detached norm profile. This study identified the contexts of youth that heighten the risk of cyber violence and suggested important points of intervention.

According to the Indonesian Child Protection Law, Number 35/2014, the group of children that should receive special protection are minorities and isolated children; this includes Indigenous children who mostly live in remote areas. Under this law, Indigenous children gain special protection, including facilities to share their cultural practices, practice their beliefs, and use their language. This article aimed to describe how Indigenous children have been represented in selected policies in Indonesia. The first step of a policy analysis approach known as “What's the problem represented to be” (WPR), introduced by Carol Bacchi in her book “Analysing policy: What's the problem represented to be?” in 2009, was applied to examine how Indigenous children in Indonesia are represented in six significant policies. Findings from the analysis indicate that the government of Indonesia acknowledges Indigenous rights. However, the policies describe Indigenous children as vulnerable and linked to social welfare problems. Social work core values state that respect for the dignity and worth of all human beings, promotion of welfare or well-being, and social justice should be extended to Indigenous children. To promote well-being, it is argued that social workers must be given more opportunities to be involved in policymaking and advocacy for implementing Indigenous children's policies in Indonesia.

COVID-19 lockdowns have resulted in significant societal disruptions, intensifying family stress and escalating instances of intimate partner violence (IPV). Lockdowns necessitated prolonged proximity to abusers, magnifying home's significance as a space of victimization. The current study conducted in Korea (n = 813) examined the impact of housing density and room count on COVID-19-related IPV. Analyzing data from Seongnam City, Korea, the study examined a couple of pre-/postpandemic, factors covariates like gender, age, employment, education, and income. Using STATA 13.0, the study conducted multiple logistic regression to examine the association between housing conditions and IPV during and prior to COVID-19, with all covariates included. Housing density was associated with emotional IPV victimization before COVID-19, while the number of rooms was associated with physical and sexual IPV victimization before COVID-19 and sexual IPV victimization after COVID-19. Time spent with partners was significantly associated with emotional IPV victimization, and the association between the number of rooms and sexual IPV victimization remained significant after adjusting for COVID-19-related variables. Practical implications and recommendations are discussed to address this issue and protect vulnerable populations from harm. Although poor housing conditions have been linked to increased stress levels and comprised mental health, scant attention has been paid to those relationships.

Using nationally representative data from the Labor Force Survey for 2021, this study investigates the factors associated with changes in the employment and income of Vietnamese workers aged ≥50 years due to COVID-19. Employing multinomial logistic regression analysis, the first model investigates changes in employment (i.e., job loss, temporary absence, increased work hours, change in work mode, and no employment change). The second model illustrates changes in income (i.e., lower/higher income and no change). Independent variables include demographic characteristics and employment features (e.g., industry and information technology (IT) use). The findings emphasize that a stable job, such as one that contributes to social insurance or employment with state or private establishments, can reduce the risk of job loss and income reduction. Moreover, older workers with high levels of education and work skills, such as IT use, are associated with an increased probability of remote work, which reduces the risk of job loss during the pandemic. The results imply that formalizing employment and increasing the human capital of older workers are effective approaches for achieving employment and income security, especially in the case of unforeseen circumstances.

This study estimated the (1) levels of alcohol use, drinking motives, ego-resiliency, and social support; (2) effect of drinking motives on alcohol use; and (3) moderating effects of ego-resiliency and social support. An online survey was conducted among undergraduate college students from a university in Hawaiʻi (n = 172). This study estimated moderating effects of ego-resiliency and social support between drinking motives and alcohol use using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS macro version 4.0. Four independent moderation analyses were performed for each drinking motive (social, coping, conformity, and enhancement). About one-fourth of the sample had drinking problems (AUDIT score ≥ 8). The highest drinking motive was social, followed by enhancement, coping, and conformity motives. Ego-resiliency significantly moderated the relationship between coping and enhancement motives with alcohol use. Social support did not have a significant moderating effect between drinking motives and alcohol use. The findings suggest that undergraduate college students who drink with coping and enhancement motives may have a reduced risk of drinking problems if they have a high level of ego-resiliency. Future research and practice need to account for drinking motives and ego-resiliency when working with college students to prevent and intervene in excessive alcohol use.

Implementing the child director policy is an innovation in China's child protection practice, and the work of child directors aims to provide care and protection services for vulnerable children in communities and villages. According to the person–environment fit theory (i.e., needs–supplies fit), this study evaluated the work effectiveness of child directors and its influencing factors from environmental and personal perspectives. The results revealed that the supportive work environment (i.e., management, training, and supervision) and personal factors (i.e., professional competency and career identity) positively influenced the work effectiveness of child directors, and professional competency and career identity mediated the relationship between the supportive work environment and the work effectiveness. The findings provided evidence for improving the implementation of child director policy in the future.

Macau is a rapidly aging city, with 13.8% of the population aged over 65. Social capital has been identified as a crucial protective factor for negative mental health outcomes, yet its relationship with mental health among older adults in Macau remains unclear. This study thematically analyzed the narratives of 19 in-depth face-to-face interviews of Cantonese-speaking elderly aged 60 or above residing in the Seac Pai Van public housing project, the largest public housing project in Macau. This study aimed to collect information on how social networks and social participation impact their mental well-being that may shed light on the promotion of resident mental health in future public housing developments. Results revealed shallow social capital in the community and a high prevalence of loneliness among senior residents who resided in the studied estate. The study also shed light on the participants' thoughts on death, including suicidal ideation, and how they are shaped by their mental health situation and environment. The findings highlight the need to revisit the current mental health policy in Macau and address the urban and architectural design and social organization in new communities, empowering communities to build a friendly environment.