Youths who are socially isolated are largely inaccessible to social work professionals; nevertheless, most are active on social media. Feeling they have been let down by society, many such youths seek comfort in imageboards, where the idea of being anti-social is cherished and where even extremism and hate speech is tolerated. This study relies on a thematic analysis of 323 imageboard messages to identify the challenges socially withdrawn youths perceive as excluding them from society. We use the capability approach as our viewpoint, emphasizing the youths’ actual capabilities to join in, as opposed to the opportunities seemingly provided by society. Our results resonate with the earlier research: Many members of the group labeled ‘withdrawn youth’ suffer from neuropsychological and mental health problems, fear social situations, experience a sense of shame and failure, and harbor bitterness toward society. They consider issues including unsuitable services, the onerous demands imposed by working life, and the hard values prevalent in society to restrict their opportunities to participate in that society and undermine their self-respect. Fear and negative experiences prevent socially withdrawn people from approaching social workers. Accordingly, we recommend social services keep an open mind on using digital options to reach people beyond the conventional service system.
{"title":"“One’s Social Skills Go to the Dogs”","authors":"Hanna Kirjavainen, Harri Jalonen","doi":"10.18060/26067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18060/26067","url":null,"abstract":"Youths who are socially isolated are largely inaccessible to social work professionals; nevertheless, most are active on social media. Feeling they have been let down by society, many such youths seek comfort in imageboards, where the idea of being anti-social is cherished and where even extremism and hate speech is tolerated. This study relies on a thematic analysis of 323 imageboard messages to identify the challenges socially withdrawn youths perceive as excluding them from society. We use the capability approach as our viewpoint, emphasizing the youths’ actual capabilities to join in, as opposed to the opportunities seemingly provided by society. Our results resonate with the earlier research: Many members of the group labeled ‘withdrawn youth’ suffer from neuropsychological and mental health problems, fear social situations, experience a sense of shame and failure, and harbor bitterness toward society. They consider issues including unsuitable services, the onerous demands imposed by working life, and the hard values prevalent in society to restrict their opportunities to participate in that society and undermine their self-respect. Fear and negative experiences prevent socially withdrawn people from approaching social workers. Accordingly, we recommend social services keep an open mind on using digital options to reach people beyond the conventional service system.","PeriodicalId":7430,"journal":{"name":"Advances in social work","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46010444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Macro-level institutional racism and micro-level racial microaggressions have an insidious effect on the social experience and, consequently, mental health of Black people. The purposes of this study were to compare the differential experiences of structural uncertainties, racial microaggressions, and minority stress between a nation-wide sample of people who are Black and people who are White as well as to understand the impact of racial stressors on minority stress among people who are Black, specifically. It is argued that minority stress among people who are Black is a central process that inherently connects institutional elements and the lived experience and, ultimately, provides a context for a deeper understanding of the connection between racism and mental health among people who are Black. A secondary data analysis of survey data from the “2016 Racial Attitudes in America II” was conducted by the Pew Research Center in which perceptions and experiences of people who are Black and White (Weighted n=3,036) and, subsequently, patterns among a subsample of people who are Black (Weighted n=480) were examined. The study found that larger percentages of people who are Black in the U.S. experience structural uncertainties and racial microaggressions than people who are White. Among people who are Black, as the intensity of racial stressors increases, the level of minority stress increases. Ultimately, the study substantiates the structural uncertainties, racial microaggressions, and minority stress experienced among people who are Black and suggests that minority stress among people who are Black is a psychosocial response to everyday structural uncertainties and racial microaggressions. Based on the results, it is recommended that on a macro-level, healthcare policy acknowledges minority stress among people who are Black and, on a micro-level, that addressing minority stress be incorporated into therapeutic interventions by social workers and other helping professionals as an important component of cultural competency.
{"title":"Intersections of Institutional Racism, Racial Microaggressions, and Minority Stress in the Lived Experiences of Black People","authors":"S. Seiler","doi":"10.18060/26115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18060/26115","url":null,"abstract":"Macro-level institutional racism and micro-level racial microaggressions have an insidious effect on the social experience and, consequently, mental health of Black people. The purposes of this study were to compare the differential experiences of structural uncertainties, racial microaggressions, and minority stress between a nation-wide sample of people who are Black and people who are White as well as to understand the impact of racial stressors on minority stress among people who are Black, specifically. It is argued that minority stress among people who are Black is a central process that inherently connects institutional elements and the lived experience and, ultimately, provides a context for a deeper understanding of the connection between racism and mental health among people who are Black. A secondary data analysis of survey data from the “2016 Racial Attitudes in America II” was conducted by the Pew Research Center in which perceptions and experiences of people who are Black and White (Weighted n=3,036) and, subsequently, patterns among a subsample of people who are Black (Weighted n=480) were examined. The study found that larger percentages of people who are Black in the U.S. experience structural uncertainties and racial microaggressions than people who are White. Among people who are Black, as the intensity of racial stressors increases, the level of minority stress increases. Ultimately, the study substantiates the structural uncertainties, racial microaggressions, and minority stress experienced among people who are Black and suggests that minority stress among people who are Black is a psychosocial response to everyday structural uncertainties and racial microaggressions. Based on the results, it is recommended that on a macro-level, healthcare policy acknowledges minority stress among people who are Black and, on a micro-level, that addressing minority stress be incorporated into therapeutic interventions by social workers and other helping professionals as an important component of cultural competency.","PeriodicalId":7430,"journal":{"name":"Advances in social work","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42108597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amy D Benton, Alejandro Allen, Lindsey Anderson, E. Nason
Integrated behavioral healthcare is becoming increasingly important and central to social work practice as the healthcare field shifts from a solely disease model of health to a more holistic approach. Researchers have also noted the need for studies demonstrating effective models for incorporating integrated healthcare training into schools of social work. Studies that demonstrate the effects of integrated training have the potential to provide legitimacy to these training programs, an important step in furthering their adoption within schools of social work in the United States and abroad. The training program described here was designed to increase the number of MSW social workers who provide trauma-informed, culturally relevant, evidence-based behavioral health prevention and intervention practices at integrated healthcare settings. This study used a pre- and post-survey design with non-participating MSW students as a control group. Findings indicate significant increases in knowledge, skills, and attitudes for training participants. A recommendation for further research is to explore to what extent graduates transfer their enhanced knowledge to the workplace.
{"title":"Increasing Social Work’s Stake in Interprofessional Practice","authors":"Amy D Benton, Alejandro Allen, Lindsey Anderson, E. Nason","doi":"10.18060/25624","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18060/25624","url":null,"abstract":"Integrated behavioral healthcare is becoming increasingly important and central to social work practice as the healthcare field shifts from a solely disease model of health to a more holistic approach. Researchers have also noted the need for studies demonstrating effective models for incorporating integrated healthcare training into schools of social work. Studies that demonstrate the effects of integrated training have the potential to provide legitimacy to these training programs, an important step in furthering their adoption within schools of social work in the United States and abroad. The training program described here was designed to increase the number of MSW social workers who provide trauma-informed, culturally relevant, evidence-based behavioral health prevention and intervention practices at integrated healthcare settings. This study used a pre- and post-survey design with non-participating MSW students as a control group. Findings indicate significant increases in knowledge, skills, and attitudes for training participants. A recommendation for further research is to explore to what extent graduates transfer their enhanced knowledge to the workplace.","PeriodicalId":7430,"journal":{"name":"Advances in social work","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42383172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Suicide is a major public health issue in the United States, but it is unknown how many social work programs have courses specializing in this topic. The purpose of this study was to establish baseline knowledge of suicide-focused course offerings in social work programs in the United States. A survey of CSWE-accredited programs (n=151) in the United States was used to collect data on social work programs’ suicide content in their curricula at three levels: baccalaureate, graduate, and continuing education. While only 6% of programs offered a required course on suicide, 13.9% offered an elective focused on suicide, and courses with substantial suicide content were available in 25.2% of programs. Continuing education offerings with a focus on suicide were present at 26.5% of programs. The implications for social work education are discussed, including the need for more courses specializing in suicide, especially within MSW programs, and for future research to better understand the factors which limit the development of such courses.
{"title":"Are Social Work Students Being Adequately Prepared to Intervene With Suicide?","authors":"Rebecca G. Mirick","doi":"10.18060/25991","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18060/25991","url":null,"abstract":"Suicide is a major public health issue in the United States, but it is unknown how many social work programs have courses specializing in this topic. The purpose of this study was to establish baseline knowledge of suicide-focused course offerings in social work programs in the United States. A survey of CSWE-accredited programs (n=151) in the United States was used to collect data on social work programs’ suicide content in their curricula at three levels: baccalaureate, graduate, and continuing education. While only 6% of programs offered a required course on suicide, 13.9% offered an elective focused on suicide, and courses with substantial suicide content were available in 25.2% of programs. Continuing education offerings with a focus on suicide were present at 26.5% of programs. The implications for social work education are discussed, including the need for more courses specializing in suicide, especially within MSW programs, and for future research to better understand the factors which limit the development of such courses.","PeriodicalId":7430,"journal":{"name":"Advances in social work","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42188372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Social work practice with children and families is one of the largest specialization areas in the profession. To prepare students for this area of practice, social work programs often offer several courses focused on child, adolescent, and family well-being. Technology-related topics, however, such as the role of child and family media use on children’s developmental outcomes, are underrepresented in social work curricula, courses, and textbooks focusing on children and families. To highlight the importance of this content, our teaching note synthesizes evidence on the impact of two forms of media (television viewing and smartphone use) on children’s self-regulation and parent-child interactions. Although we focus on only two forms of media, our research synthesis links media use to emergent issues influencing child development and family functioning—content highly applicable to direct and indirect social work practice activities with children and families. We further draw upon our translational findings to advance social work education and practice by offering low- and high-effort strategies to embed this content in child and family social work courses. We conclude with implications and future directions for social work educators, practitioners, and leaders that describe opportunities to prepare students for a technology-driven future and to use technology strategically to fulfill our profession’s mission and values.
{"title":"Media Use and Child Development","authors":"S. Bates, Aesha John","doi":"10.18060/26342","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18060/26342","url":null,"abstract":"Social work practice with children and families is one of the largest specialization areas in the profession. To prepare students for this area of practice, social work programs often offer several courses focused on child, adolescent, and family well-being. Technology-related topics, however, such as the role of child and family media use on children’s developmental outcomes, are underrepresented in social work curricula, courses, and textbooks focusing on children and families. To highlight the importance of this content, our teaching note synthesizes evidence on the impact of two forms of media (television viewing and smartphone use) on children’s self-regulation and parent-child interactions. Although we focus on only two forms of media, our research synthesis links media use to emergent issues influencing child development and family functioning—content highly applicable to direct and indirect social work practice activities with children and families. We further draw upon our translational findings to advance social work education and practice by offering low- and high-effort strategies to embed this content in child and family social work courses. We conclude with implications and future directions for social work educators, practitioners, and leaders that describe opportunities to prepare students for a technology-driven future and to use technology strategically to fulfill our profession’s mission and values.","PeriodicalId":7430,"journal":{"name":"Advances in social work","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46981449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Keesler, David A. Wilkerson, Kurt White, S. Dickinson
COVID-19 had a profound impact on teaching and learning at academic institutions across the globe. This study examined the experiences of social work students (n = 884) during the pandemic and their associated level of burnout. Using a mixed methods approach, data from an online survey within a school of social work at a large Midwestern university were examined using stepwise regression and thematic analysis. Student demographics, academic characteristics, and experiences with COVID-19 were examined as predictors of burnout. Resilience was tested as a moderator of the association between COVID-19 experiences and burnout. Regression models accounted for 34.3% to 45.5% of variance across three domains of burnout (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism, and professional/academic efficacy), with COVID-related experiences accounting for most of the variance. Although resilience had a significant main effect, the interactions of resilience and COVID-19 experiences were not significant. Quantitative results were illuminated by thematic analysis of the qualitative data from which emerged four major themes: online teaching pedagogy, impact of COVID-19, transition of teaching and learning, and affective domains of learning. Engaging in humanistic education is discussed as a possible approach to circumvent burnout, bolster student resilience, and encourage academic success.
{"title":"Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Social Work Students","authors":"J. Keesler, David A. Wilkerson, Kurt White, S. Dickinson","doi":"10.18060/26394","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18060/26394","url":null,"abstract":"COVID-19 had a profound impact on teaching and learning at academic institutions across the globe. This study examined the experiences of social work students (n = 884) during the pandemic and their associated level of burnout. Using a mixed methods approach, data from an online survey within a school of social work at a large Midwestern university were examined using stepwise regression and thematic analysis. Student demographics, academic characteristics, and experiences with COVID-19 were examined as predictors of burnout. Resilience was tested as a moderator of the association between COVID-19 experiences and burnout. Regression models accounted for 34.3% to 45.5% of variance across three domains of burnout (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism, and professional/academic efficacy), with COVID-related experiences accounting for most of the variance. Although resilience had a significant main effect, the interactions of resilience and COVID-19 experiences were not significant. Quantitative results were illuminated by thematic analysis of the qualitative data from which emerged four major themes: online teaching pedagogy, impact of COVID-19, transition of teaching and learning, and affective domains of learning. Engaging in humanistic education is discussed as a possible approach to circumvent burnout, bolster student resilience, and encourage academic success.","PeriodicalId":7430,"journal":{"name":"Advances in social work","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48067420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jill Chonody, B. Teater, K. Hannan, Katelyn E Hall
The stress that the COVID pandemic has caused is immeasurable and is likely to impact people for many years to come. Service providers such as social workers are experiencing these impacts both personally and professionally. As new research emerges, a greater understanding of the emotional toll related to COVID can help to inform social work practice. To add to this gap in the literature, an online survey explored the factors that contribute to higher stress reactions among individuals in the general population (n = 412) and across the age spectrum. Bivariate analyses indicated a significant increase in stress from pre- to during-COVID for the entire sample and across the three age groups. Multivariate analysis revealed more conversations about COVID, more alcohol use, knowing someone who had tested positive, increased fear, greater avoidance of reading/watching information about COVID, decreased health status, and increased income contributed to stress during-COVID. Increased fear and decreased health status were significant when stress was examined separately among the three age groups. The results indicated the importance of understanding and responding to fear during public health crises and illustrate how interventions may shift for clinical social workers as they seek to address multi-layered concerns. Social workers can help manage the impact of the pandemic by providing clients with therapeutic services, psychoeducation, and case management.
{"title":"Stress During the Early Months of COVID in the U.S.","authors":"Jill Chonody, B. Teater, K. Hannan, Katelyn E Hall","doi":"10.18060/25790","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18060/25790","url":null,"abstract":"The stress that the COVID pandemic has caused is immeasurable and is likely to impact people for many years to come. Service providers such as social workers are experiencing these impacts both personally and professionally. As new research emerges, a greater understanding of the emotional toll related to COVID can help to inform social work practice. To add to this gap in the literature, an online survey explored the factors that contribute to higher stress reactions among individuals in the general population (n = 412) and across the age spectrum. Bivariate analyses indicated a significant increase in stress from pre- to during-COVID for the entire sample and across the three age groups. Multivariate analysis revealed more conversations about COVID, more alcohol use, knowing someone who had tested positive, increased fear, greater avoidance of reading/watching information about COVID, decreased health status, and increased income contributed to stress during-COVID. Increased fear and decreased health status were significant when stress was examined separately among the three age groups. The results indicated the importance of understanding and responding to fear during public health crises and illustrate how interventions may shift for clinical social workers as they seek to address multi-layered concerns. Social workers can help manage the impact of the pandemic by providing clients with therapeutic services, psychoeducation, and case management.","PeriodicalId":7430,"journal":{"name":"Advances in social work","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41878908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Dehart, Aidyn L Iachini, L. King, Elana LeCleir, Melissa C. Reitmeier, T. Browne
Social workers and other health care researchers have examined benefits and challenges of telehealth in rural communities before the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, experience with virtual platforms and other technologies have rapidly evolved during the pandemic. The research team interviewed 14 health care providers and 17 patients after the onset of the pandemic in a predominantly rural state to examine perceptions of telehealth. MaxQDA analytic software was used to identify benefits and challenges in the use of telehealth. Findings identified commonly discussed benefits of telehealth including convenience for patients, increasing patient access to care, improved patient experience of care, and ability of telehealth to attract/retain patients. Challenges identified in this study included concerns about quality of care being compromised, patients’ comfort and access to technology, policy challenges for providers, and the impersonal nature of telehealth visits. Persistent issues warrant research, education, and policy advocacy to improve access for rural populations. Social workers should play a key role in educating the emerging and existing workforce around barriers such as quality of care and patient comfort with technology, convening professionals and patients to establish sustained and effective reimbursement models, and advocating for structural access via enhanced broadband and other resource allocations.
{"title":"Benefits and Challenges of Telehealth Use during COVID-19","authors":"D. Dehart, Aidyn L Iachini, L. King, Elana LeCleir, Melissa C. Reitmeier, T. Browne","doi":"10.18060/26157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18060/26157","url":null,"abstract":"Social workers and other health care researchers have examined benefits and challenges of telehealth in rural communities before the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, experience with virtual platforms and other technologies have rapidly evolved during the pandemic. The research team interviewed 14 health care providers and 17 patients after the onset of the pandemic in a predominantly rural state to examine perceptions of telehealth. MaxQDA analytic software was used to identify benefits and challenges in the use of telehealth. Findings identified commonly discussed benefits of telehealth including convenience for patients, increasing patient access to care, improved patient experience of care, and ability of telehealth to attract/retain patients. Challenges identified in this study included concerns about quality of care being compromised, patients’ comfort and access to technology, policy challenges for providers, and the impersonal nature of telehealth visits. Persistent issues warrant research, education, and policy advocacy to improve access for rural populations. Social workers should play a key role in educating the emerging and existing workforce around barriers such as quality of care and patient comfort with technology, convening professionals and patients to establish sustained and effective reimbursement models, and advocating for structural access via enhanced broadband and other resource allocations.","PeriodicalId":7430,"journal":{"name":"Advances in social work","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49407254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sam Harrell, Brianna Suslovic, Constance Johnson, Chandler Boys, Ben Anderson-Nathe, Kassandra Botts
Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) is a manualized treatment commonly used in correctional settings to address perceived moral failing and associated problematic behaviors (e.g., substance use and criminal conduct). Many social work students are introduced to MRT as a treatment modality during field placements in correctional contexts. As a group modality that draws from cognitive-behavioral interventions and 12-step recovery programs, MRT has been touted as a cost-effective and evidence-based intervention. However, there are substantial reasons to question MRT’s appropriateness as an intervention taught to social work practicum students. Using several of the CSWE EPAS standards as guideposts, this paper addresses several key areas of concern with regard to the role of MRT in the training of social work students. Through our analysis of MRT’s curriculum, we identify areas of concern with regard to MRT’s ability to teach social work students how to ethically practice, engage diversity and difference in practice, or utilize research to inform practice. Despite the widespread use of MRT in correctional counseling contexts, we conclude that MRT is unsuitable for use in accredited social work field placements. Educators and accreditation agencies should critically evaluate the treatment models social work students learn and practice in field placements.
{"title":"Moral Reconation Therapy","authors":"Sam Harrell, Brianna Suslovic, Constance Johnson, Chandler Boys, Ben Anderson-Nathe, Kassandra Botts","doi":"10.18060/26271","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18060/26271","url":null,"abstract":"Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) is a manualized treatment commonly used in correctional settings to address perceived moral failing and associated problematic behaviors (e.g., substance use and criminal conduct). Many social work students are introduced to MRT as a treatment modality during field placements in correctional contexts. As a group modality that draws from cognitive-behavioral interventions and 12-step recovery programs, MRT has been touted as a cost-effective and evidence-based intervention. However, there are substantial reasons to question MRT’s appropriateness as an intervention taught to social work practicum students. Using several of the CSWE EPAS standards as guideposts, this paper addresses several key areas of concern with regard to the role of MRT in the training of social work students. Through our analysis of MRT’s curriculum, we identify areas of concern with regard to MRT’s ability to teach social work students how to ethically practice, engage diversity and difference in practice, or utilize research to inform practice. Despite the widespread use of MRT in correctional counseling contexts, we conclude that MRT is unsuitable for use in accredited social work field placements. Educators and accreditation agencies should critically evaluate the treatment models social work students learn and practice in field placements.","PeriodicalId":7430,"journal":{"name":"Advances in social work","volume":"189 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136195168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Premela Deck, Sarah R. Eisensmith, Jacqueline Cafaro
Practical measures to screen for high levels of pre-divorce conflict offer a unique opportunity for early intervention by forensic social work professionals in divorces where children are at risk of being exposed to high levels of interparental conflict and subsequent maladjustment. There is a lack of validated short screening instruments specifically addressing pre-divorce conflict for parents with at least one minor child. An instrument of this nature would support those in the forensic social work field in identifying families that may be at risk for a high-conflict divorce process. Accordingly, this study describes the development of a self-report measure to assess conflict in parenting couples who are in the process of divorce. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted with data from a sample of parents in the process of divorce (n=114), and multiple factor structures were examined. The EFA confirmed that a one-factor model offered the best fit. The short 8-item Parents Divorcing Conflict Scale (PDCS) is a promising measure for use in forensic social work, research, and clinical and policy settings as it captures pertinent themes of conflict, including communication, social network, parent characteristics, satisfaction with agreements, and mistrust, and can inform early intervention strategies that will serve to support healthy communication practices amongst divorcing couples throughout the marriage dissolution process.
{"title":"The Parents Divorcing Conflict Scale","authors":"Premela Deck, Sarah R. Eisensmith, Jacqueline Cafaro","doi":"10.18060/26385","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18060/26385","url":null,"abstract":"Practical measures to screen for high levels of pre-divorce conflict offer a unique opportunity for early intervention by forensic social work professionals in divorces where children are at risk of being exposed to high levels of interparental conflict and subsequent maladjustment. There is a lack of validated short screening instruments specifically addressing pre-divorce conflict for parents with at least one minor child. An instrument of this nature would support those in the forensic social work field in identifying families that may be at risk for a high-conflict divorce process. Accordingly, this study describes the development of a self-report measure to assess conflict in parenting couples who are in the process of divorce. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted with data from a sample of parents in the process of divorce (n=114), and multiple factor structures were examined. The EFA confirmed that a one-factor model offered the best fit. The short 8-item Parents Divorcing Conflict Scale (PDCS) is a promising measure for use in forensic social work, research, and clinical and policy settings as it captures pertinent themes of conflict, including communication, social network, parent characteristics, satisfaction with agreements, and mistrust, and can inform early intervention strategies that will serve to support healthy communication practices amongst divorcing couples throughout the marriage dissolution process.","PeriodicalId":7430,"journal":{"name":"Advances in social work","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43207172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}