Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)最新文献

Purpose: Asian Americans face unique challenges when immigrating to the United States, including intimate partner violence (IPV). Cultural factors such as male dominance and prioritization of family over individual needs often discourage women from seeking help. The purpose of this study is to examine the personal and environmental limitations of seeking help experienced by Asian American IPV survivors.

Methods: We collaborated with two not-for-profit agencies serving Asian American IPV survivors. These agencies, located in large metropolitan areas, surveyed 123 clients in three time periods between 2022 and 2024. Two-thirds of respondents identified as Korean, followed by Mongolian, Chinese, and other ethnicities. The survey included a stigma scale, barriers to accessing the criminal justice system, and open-ended responses.

Results: Survivors identified fear of being blamed, feelings of shame, and lack of community support following disclosure as significant barriers to seeking help. In addition, respondents identified barriers to accessing the criminal justice system, including practical barriers (language, cost, and transportation), lack of knowledge about the system and how to contact it, fears about their partner's reaction, getting the abuser in trouble, losing custody of the children, upsetting the extended family, and lack of trust in the system. Survivors had mixed experiences with police interactions.

Discussion: The findings highlight critical opportunities for prevention efforts, emphasizing the need for strategies to change norms that blame the victims, educate communities and faith leaders on how to support survivors, inform survivors on their legal options, and educate police and legal advocates on culturally sensitive interventions.

Purpose: In this study our purpose is to evaluate the structural validity and internal consistency of the KEY, which is an effectiveness evaluation measure grounded in critical realism (CR) and designed to measure social work effectiveness. The KEY is completed collaboratively by the client and the social worker before and after interventions.

Materials and methods: Research material consists of 454 working-age social work clients from four Finnish municipalities. The data was collected between March 2018 and late 2019 via a cross-sectional survey. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with structural equation modeling was employed to assess construct validity, while Cronbach's alpha measured internal consistency.

Results: Results demonstrated that the KEY exhibited a good data fit, with a normed fit index ranging from 0.94 to 0.87, indicating acceptable psychometric properties.

Discussion: The key findings of this study demonstrate that the KEY measure possesses satisfactory psychometric properties and structural validity. The KEY proved to be a suitable tool for use in adult social work and for measuring the effectiveness of social work.

Conclusion: It is recommended that future studies focus on the predictive validation of the KEY measure, which becomes possible when longitudinal data are collected.

Purpose: This study examines the impact of perceived family social support on youth life satisfaction, focusing on the mediating roles of psychological resilience and trait anxiety.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional quantitative research design was employed, collecting data from 626 participants via an online survey. A convenience sampling method was used. Analyses, including confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) path analysis, were conducted using SPSS 24 and AMOS 24 software.

Results: The findings indicate that perceived family social support positively influences psychological resilience and life satisfaction while reducing trait anxiety. Psychological resilience lowers trait anxiety; however, its direct effect on life satisfaction is insignificant. Trait anxiety, on the other hand, negatively affects life satisfaction and acts as a mediator between perceived family social support and life satisfaction. Additionally, psychological resilience plays an indirect role in the effect of perceived family social support on life satisfaction through trait anxiety.

Discussion: The results suggest that perceived family support enhances resilience and reduces anxiety among youth, contributing to greater life satisfaction. These findings underscore the complex interplay between these variables and highlight the mediating roles of psychological resilience and trait anxiety.

Conclusion: This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that perceived family support enhances life satisfaction by strengthening psychological resilience and reducing trait anxiety. In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of fostering family-based support systems to promote youth well-being.

Purpose: This research aimed to examine the responses given by ChatGPT to seven social investigation reports prepared in the field of children regarding deficiencies, risk factors and protective factors, social work intervention plan and institution suggestions in Türkiye.

Materials and methods: Anonymized reports were accessed via web pages on Google and content analysis was conducted using qualitative research methods. The data obtained were analyzed by using the MAXQDA22 program with thematic analysis method and three main themes were created.

Results: In the first theme, social investigation reports are comprehensively evaluated by ChatGPT, deficiencies in both form and content are identified and improvement suggestions are presented. Risk factors and protective factors as the second theme are divided into sub-themes as individual characteristics and experience, family, social environment, health, education, housing, economic and social situation. In the last theme, it is observed that the objectives are established before the social work intervention plan and the institutions providing services are suggested by taking into account different practice areas.

Conclusion: Future studies could investigate the effects of the use of AI in social work practice on social work experts.

Purpose: Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are rapidly expanding across diverse contexts. As the reach of AI continues to grow, there is a need to examine student perspectives on the increasing prevalence of AI and AI-based practice approaches in social work.

Materials and methods: In this qualitative study, we conducted structured interviews with 15 students in bachelors and masters social work programs. We developed an interview guide with a list of questions to ask students and no prior knowledge of AI was required by the students. The study was framed based on an interpretive phenomenological analysis approach.

Results: Through thematic analysis, five key themes were developed, including 1) Risks associated with AI, 2) Ethical Concerns in AI and Technology Use, 3) Bias and Fairness in AI, 4) Applications and Possibilities of AI in Social Work, and 5) Training and Awareness of AI in Social Work.

Discussion: Social workers can help disadvantaged clients by ensuring access to the various AI technologies and facilitating social welfare interventions created using these technologies. There is a need to address the gap in the existing literature about the use of AI in social work practice and education. Social work researchers can explore and conduct future studies that utilize mixed methods methodologies that can evaluate the use of AI in social work domains.

Conclusion: This study highlights the need to increase awareness of AI in social work education and practice settings given the potential of these technologies to aid various aspects of social work practice.

Purpose: Immigrant survivors are disproportionately vulnerable to domestic violence (DV) and face complex barriers to DV help-seeking. Several Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorizations sought to address these barriers. This study explores immigrant survivors' experiences of utilizing VAWA provisions from service providers' perspectives.

Materials and methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews (n = 11) to learn how service providers are supporting immigrant survivors of DV as it relates to VAWA. A convenience sampling method and inductive coding were used, followed by a thematic analysis of data obtained from the interviews.

Results: We identified three main themes: "Provider Support for VAWA Utilization Through Their Agency or Referrals," "Barriers," and "Provider Recommendations to Support Survivors." Providers highlight the gaps in access to service provisions and strategies that ensure empowerment, safety, and support for the needs of immigrant survivors.

Discussion and conclusion: Future research should include service providers from across all regions of the U.S. Social workers should utilize a client-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach when working with immigrant survivors. Policy implications include (a) that "any credible evidence protection" recognized by VAWA provisions is acknowledged for U-Visa approval decisions, (b) making optional the requirement that survivors assist law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of the crime, and (c) increasing the U-visa cap.

Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global issue requiring a thorough understanding of risk factors to inform prevention strategies. This study applies Kraemer et al.'s (2005) categorization system to classify risk factors for IPV perpetration, addressing two research questions: 1) What variables or attributes are commonly employed to assess the risks associated with IPV perpetration, and how can these be thematized? 2) Which non-correlates, correlates, fixed markers, variable markers, and causal risk factors related to IPV perpetration are identified and examined in the existing literature?

Material and methods: A scoping review of 62 publications on risk factors for IPV perpetration in married- and cohabiting couples was conducted. Risk factors were categorized using Kraemer et al.'s (2005) system.

Results: The risk factors were classified into eight themes based on their shared characteristics. All variables fit Kraemer et al.'s categorization system. The majority showed correlational relationships. Fixed markers appeared in two themes, while variable markers appeared in six themes, however publications on these were limited. No causal risk factors were found.

Discussion: The risk categorization system by Kraemer et al. enhances understanding of IPV perpetration risk factors. Priority areas for preventing IPV include reducing the risk of experiencing violence in childhood and ensuring access to higher education. More longitudinal research is needed for the remaining categories to establish temporal relationships.

Conclusion: The study highlights the value of Kraemer et al.'s categorization system for distinguishing correlation from causality in IPV risk factors, advancing prevention efforts. Important areas for preventive measures were targeted.

Purpose: Police departments are developing co-response programs to provide a more supportive approach for individuals in mental health crises. While prior studies examine officer attitudes, little research explores program participants' perspectives. This study examines participants' experiences with a co-response team (CIRT) and its impact on their lives. Understanding these experiences can help refine existing programs and inform new initiatives.

Materials and methods: Using a mixed methods approach, this study includes qualitative interviews (N = 15) and quantitative surveys (N = 37) to assess perceptions of CIRT encounters. Surveys measured feelings during interactions, overall perceptions of CIRT, and likelihood of seeking further treatment. Thematic analysis explored participants' narratives.

Results: Findings highlight CIRT's use of alternatives to arrests and citations, fostering a helping attitude. Survey data indicate generally positive perceptions, with participants feeling safer contacting the police after encounters. Key themes include: 1) Connections to community services with barriers removed; 2) Personal changes following CIRT interactions; 3) Need for greater CIRT availability and community awareness; and 4) Persistent systemic barriers.

Discussion: Participants reported positive experiences with CIRT and highlighted feelings of safety, trust, and connection when CIRT responded to their crises. Still, participants noted minimal community awareness of the program, limited operational hours, and systemic barriers to services in the area as limitations to CIRT's effectiveness.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of continued investment in, and refinement of co-response programs, along with the need to address systemic barriers to supportive services and quality mental health care.