"A breath of fresh air": mindfulness training for early-career mental health social workers in Israel during COVID-19.

The present study examined the effectiveness of participation in a mindfulness group for Israeli early career social workers during the COVID-19 period. Eleven participants conducting fieldwork in a mental health rehabilitation center were interviewed. The participants described a variety of benefits from their mindfulness training, in three main areas: (1) Personal: applying mindfulness in their daily life; (2) Family: improved work-life balance and family relationships; and (3) Professional: applying mindfulness in their work with mental health clients. Mental support and self-care tools provided to early-career social workers were perceived by the participants as helping them overcome uncertainty, fatigue, and overwork.

Burnout, negative emotions, and wellbeing among social workers in China after community lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic: Mediating roles of trait mindfulness.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate burnout situation of social workers (SWs) who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic-related community lockdown 1 year before, and to assess the protective value of trait mindfulness (TM) in states of burnout. Method: We surveyed the burnout, trait mindfulness, negative emotions (NEs) and wellbeing (WB) of 182 social workers provided services to Wuhan lockdowns community by COVID-19 one year before. Burnout were measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey; TM using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale; NEs using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21; and WB using the General Wellbeing Schedule. We also performed correlation regression analysis and mediation test for burnout, TM, NEs, and WB. Results: Among the 182 respondents, 75 (41.2%) still suffered from severe burnout. TM was negatively correlated with burnout (r = -0.623), negatively correlated with NEs (r = -0.560), and positively correlated with WB (r = 0.617). Burnout had a significantly positive correlation with NEs (r = 0.544) and a significantly negative correlation with WB (r = -0.666). Further, WB had significantly negative correlation with NEs (r = -0.758). After controlling for age, gender, marital status, educational level, and years of employment, burnout had a significantly positive predictive effect on NEs (ß = 0.509), whereas TM had a significantly negative predictive effect on NEs (ß = -0.334). TM played a partial mediating role in the effect of burnout on NEs, with a mediating effect and effect ratio of 0.088 and 39.7%, respectively. Burnout had a significantly negative predictive effect on WB (ß = -0.598), whereas TM had a significantly positive predictive effect on WB (ß = 0.299). TM played a partial mediating role in the effect of burnout on NEs, with a mediating effect and effect ratio of -0.164 and 30.3%, respectively. WB had a significantly negative predictive effect on NEs (ß = -0.711), and it played a partial mediating role in the effect of burnout on NEs, with a mediating effect and effect ratio of 0.185 and 83.3%, respectively. Conclusion: The current levels of burnout among local SWs remained high 1 year after the community lockdowns. TM played a mediating role in the relationship between burnout, NEs, and WB. Concomitantly, WB played a mediating role in the relationship between burnout and NEs. Therefore, in the context of burnout, TM is a protective factor for reducing emotional stress and risks of developing psychiatric disorders through the enhancement of WB.

Mindfulness Practice and Job Performance in Social Workers: Mediation Effect of Work Engagement.

Despite a rapid increase in the work force over the last decade, the social work labor force is still suffering through high amounts of stress and burnout that could negatively affect work engagement and job performance in China. A potential solution worth exploring, however, is the practice of mindfulness, a concept based on expanding one's awareness to target focus without judgement. Using 537 social workers from street-level social work service stations in Guangzhou, China, this paper examines the relation between mindfulness practice and job performance, and whether work engagement mediated the relation through the application of the job demand and resources theory. The findings indicate that that mindfulness practice directly increases work engagement (Beta = 0.33) and has an indirect effect on job performance (Beta = 0.21) through its effect on work engagement that fully mediated the relation between mindfulness practice and job performance. In contrast to formal mindful practices (Beta = 0.13), informal mindful practices (Beta = 0.22) encompass a broader impact on employee performance. The findings suggest that mindfulness practice can effectively be used in workspaces to enhance engagement and performance of social workers in China.

Social Support, Mindfulness, and Job Burnout of Social Workers in China.

In the last 20 years, amid extensive social and economic reforms, China's social structure and community life have changed considerably. A large number of social workers are needed to provide many more social services to community residents. The central government has issued many policies to rapidly develop human service organizations and increase the number of social workers. Thus, by the end of 2019, the number of social workers has reached more than 1.5 million in China. At the same time, local governments have issued many policies to promote an increase in the number of social workers. According to statistics from the Chengdu Civil Affairs Bureau, from 2010 to 2021, the number of social workers in Chengdu City increased, remarkably, from 553 to 17,622. Although the number of social workers has increased rapidly, some problems still exist. According to a survey by the Chengdu Social Workers Association, the turnover rate of social workers has reached approximately 20% in Chengdu City in 2018. Therefore, we aim to determine what influences social workers' job burnout. Through regression analysis and mediation effect tests, we found the following: First, when controlling for gender, age, education, and workday, social support of social workers had a significant negative impact on job burnout ( ß = - 0.376). Second, the mindfulness of social workers had a significant negative impact on job burnout ( ß = - 0.320). Third, the mindfulness of social workers played a mediating role between social support and job burnout. The mediating effect was -0.116 (p < 0.001). Fourth, among the three dimensions of social support, mindfulness played a partially mediating role in family support and other support. The mediating effect between other support, which is the support from leaders and colleagues, and job burnout was the strongest, with a mediating effect of -0.109 (p < 0.001). In other words, the support provided by agency leaders and colleagues can maximize the level of mindfulness of social workers, thereby reducing social workers' job burnout most effectively. We can thus reduce social workers' job burnout by improving their level of mindfulness and the social support for them in China.

Social workers' perspectives on barriers and facilitators in responding to intimate partner violence in primary health care in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the barriers and facilitators of managing intimate partner violence (IPV) cases, from the perspective of primary health care (PHC) social workers. METHOD: Qualitative study through interviews with 14 social workers working in PHC centres in Spain. A thematic analysis approach was applied to identify barriers and facilitators according to the Tanahashi model. RESULTS: The barriers identified by social workers in providing effective coverage to women suffering from IPV included insufficient practical training, a lack of knowledge from women on social workers' roles, a lack of teamwork, and excess IPV case referrals from other professionals to social workers. The identified facilitators were the existence of electronic protocols and good practices including therapeutic support groups and holistic intervention approaches. CONCLUSIONS: An excess of referrals to social workers of identified IPV cases following consultation by other members of the PHC team, alongside the lack of interdisciplinary teamwork, does not enable a comprehensive and holistic approach to this problem. Compulsory, practical, and interdisciplinary training in IPV for all PHC professionals and students must be a priority for health agencies and universities in order to facilitate a comprehensive and quality approach for all women suffering from IPV.

A randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based intervention in social workers working during the COVID-19 crisis.

As one of the frontline professionals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, social workers can face tremendous pressure, which can lead to mental health problems. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a brief mindfulness-based intervention had short- and middle-term effects on social workers working during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a randomized controlled trial, 49 social workers were assigned to an experimental group (n = 28) or a waitlist control group (n = 21). The intervention was a four-week mindfulness-based program. The outcome variables were measured at pre- and post-test, and at one-month follow-up test. At post-test and follow-up, the workers in the experimental group reported higher mean scores in psychological flexibility and self-compassion and lower mean scores in depression compared to the workers in the waitlist control group. Although the experimental group also showed lower mean scores than the waitlist control group in anxiety and stress at both post-test and follow, the differences were not statistically significant. The findings suggest that a brief mindfulness-based intervention can improve psychological flexibility, self-compassion, and depression in social workers working during the COVID-19 crisis, leading to protected mental health, adding support to continuing development of such efficient mindfulness-based programs. Future studies should use larger samples and examine brief interventions' working mechanisms. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-021-02150-3.

Does workplace spirituality enhance motivation of hospitals social workers? The scrutiny in Iran.

BACKGROUND: In today's world as the globe of organizations, employees tend to show endeavor and more involvement in organizational goals and mission by creating workplace spirituality. AIM: The present study aimed to investigate the role of workplace spirituality in improving hospital social worker's motivation. METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional design and was conducted in 19 private and governmental hospitals in Karaj city, Alborz province, north Iran in 2019. The statistical population included all 302 hospital social workers who were selected as the sample population according to Cochran's formula. Using two standard questionnaires of workplace spirituality and employee motivation, we assessed the role of workplace spirituality in improving the hospital' social workers' motivation. RESULTS: According to research findings, there were significant relationships between workplace spirituality, meaningful working, sense of community, forgiveness, and honesty with hospital social workers motivation p ⩽ .05. There was a significant difference between age group, gender, level of education and workplace spirituality, and motivation of hospital social workers p ⩽ .05. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that health planners and authorities may need to examine factors that contribute to the promotion of workplace spirituality to increase the motivation of hospital social workers for improved performance of health organizations.

A National Survey of Social Workers Focusing on Attitudes, Knowledge, and Practice Behaviors for Educating Patients About Advance Directives: Implication During COVID19.

Social workers have a critical role on medical teams for facilitating effective conversations about advance care planning (ACP) in palliative and end-of-life care. Engaging patients in such conversations may be influenced by clinicians' attitudes. During the COVID19 pandemic, the need to examine barriers to serious illness care across healthcare settings and areas of specialty practice became abundantly clear. This study examines: (1) social workers' attitudes about ACP and (2) factors that influence the completion of advance directives (ADs). Using a cross-sectional study design, we surveyed 142 social workers on their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to ADs. Using exploratory factor analyses, we identified 2 provider practice attitudes factors, 3 perceived barriers factors, and 2 perceived importance of AD factors. We then used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each of the factors in association with the frequency social workers reported educating patients about ADs. While various positive and negative attitudes and barriers toward educating patients are important factors to consider, social workers' perceptions of the importance of engaging patients in ACP education was the most important factor that influenced their behaviors. The odds of always/often (vs. sometimes/rarely/never) educating patients about ADs in their practice were greater for those social workers who reported they see the importance of AD decision-making (OR = 3.21, 95%CI = 1.83-5.62) and confirming goals-of-care (OR = 1.76, 95%CI = 1.03-3.01). Social worker's ACP knowledge and skills for educating patients are important in initiating conversations prior to a health crisis, especially important for developing a comprehensive care plan.

Job Demands, Resources, and Burnout in Social Workers in China: Mediation Effect of Mindfulness.

Internationally, human service professionals, including social workers, experience high burnout and turnover rates. Despite the recent and rapid development of contemporary social work in China, Chinese social workers similarly experience significant rates of burnout. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the factors that contribute to social work burnout. This study applied the job demands and resources (JD-R) model to examine the effects of JD-R on burnout in social workers (n = 897) from Chengdu, China, and whether these relations are mediated by state mindfulness. Structural equation modeling results supported the previously hypothesized dual process by which JD-R affect burnout, specifically in a sample of social workers in China. Job demands (JD) were positively associated with burnout, while job resources (JR) were negatively associated with burnout. These relations were partially mediated by state mindfulness. JR had a strong, positive direct effect on mindfulness (ß = 0.38), and its total effect on burnout was high (ß = -0.56). Meanwhile, JD had a slight negative direct effect on mindfulness (ß = -0.09), and its total effect on burnout was 0.42. The results suggest that the implementation of mindfulness-based interventions for social workers can potentially mitigate the effect of JD on burnout, as well as increase the effect of JR on burnout.

Social Services Involvement in Care Transitions and Admissions in Nursing Homes.

Care transitions (CT) are critical junctures in the healthcare delivery process. Effective transitions reduce the need for subsequent transfers between healthcare settings, including nursing homes. Understanding social services (SS) involvement in these processes in nursing homes is important from a quality and holistic care perspective. Using logistic regression, this study examines structural and relational factors identified with higher involvement of SS in care transitions and admissions. SS directors from 924 nursing homes were evaluated in relation to SS involvement in care transitions and admissions processes. Results suggest the level of SS involvement in care transitions and admissions are associated with structural factors such as size of facility, geographical location, ratio of FTE's to beds, ownership status, and standalone SS departments, as well as relational factors, including perceptions and utilization of SS staff by facility leadership, coworkers, and family. Additionally, SS staff with higher levels of expertise and with social work degrees are less involved in admissions tasks.

Geriatric Social Workers in Adult Day Care Facilities: Meditation, Worker Resilience, and Job Satisfaction.

This article reports a wait list control design study on the influence of an online meditation training program for geriatric social workers (GSWs) in a range of adult day care facilities across eight Asian and African cities. Results indicated that the online program was effective in building resilience and promoting job satisfaction among the intervention group. The program was more effective for participants from Asian cities, women, Hindus, and Buddhists working in transitional day care facilities and regularly logging into the self-practice sessions. Self-practice was an important mediator determining the relationship between demographic predictors and outcomes. This synchronous and asynchronous online program can be used by GSWs with some modifications for participants from African cities; men; Muslims and Christians; and those working in active adult, palliative, and memory care facilities. Refinements may entail adding familiar spiritual ideologies, some activities for men involving greater verbalization of feelings and emotions linked to the work, and intensive exercises addressing specific challenges of workers in palliative and memory care facilities.

"We are a transit station here": The role of Israeli oncology social workers in responding to mental health distress and suicidality in patients with cancer.

Social workers have a prominent role in responding to cancer patients' mental health needs. Given the risk of mental health distress in cancer patients, and given that social workers are responsible for responding to these needs, the purpose of this study was to explore how social workers describe their role in responding to mental health distress and suicidality in people with cancer. The Grounded Theory method of data collection and analysis was used. Eighteen social workers were recruited and interviewed. Social workers saw themselves and acted as an interprofessional hub for their patients. This approach was based on the values of holistic care, multiple treatment modalities, interpersonal consultation, and continuity of care. From this standpoint, social workers offered their patients (and at times, their families) comprehensive services providing emotional, behavioral and practical support within the hospital setting, but also outside of it in the patient's communities. Consideration should be paid to promote systemic changes to acknowledge and compensate oncology socials workers' invisible labor that includes both emotional carryover and continuous engagement in their role as liaison and intermediaries for their patients.

Healthcare Concerns of Older Adults during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Lessons for Health Policy and Social Work.

Older people have been identified to be one of the most vulnerable population groups to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). At the same time, more health workers in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) including Ghana are contracting COVID-19. This poses healthcare utilization concerns for older adults. As a result, many older adults are changing their health-seeking behavior by staying at home and resorting to informal healthcare such as the use of traditional therapies and over-the-counter medicines for self-treatment or to boost their immune system. This commentary calls for social workers to collaborate with health authorities and community pharmacists to develop social and health programs to increase older adults' access to healthcare during the COVID-19 crisis. Policies are also required to deal with the pandemic and its impact on health systems in LMICs for both short and long term. We have suggested in this commentary how governments, health institutions, and local authorities in LMICs can address the healthcare concerns of older adults during this and any future pandemic.

Integrating clients' religion/spirituality in clinical practice: A comparison among social workers, psychologists, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and nurses.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to describe and compare five helping professions' views and behaviors regarding the integration of clients' religion/spirituality (RS) in clinical practice. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was used to survey 3,500 licensed clinical psychologists, nurses, marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), clinical social workers, and professional counselors across Texas. A total of 550 responded to this online survey, which included the Religious/Spiritually Integrated Practice Assessment Scale and background questions. RESULTS: Attitudes concerning the integration of clients' RS did not differ by profession and were fairly positive. However, differences emerged regarding self-efficacy, perceived feasibility, and behaviors, with LMFTs reporting the highest scores for these subscales. CONCLUSION: This is the first comparison of these five professions' attitudes, behaviors, perceived feasibility, and self-efficacy regarding integrating clients' RS. These encouraging results not only indicate helping professionals' openness to integrating clients' RS, but also highlight key differences in training, self-efficacy, views of feasibility, and implementation.

Social Workers' Perceptions of the Association Between Role Playing Games and Psychopathology.

Whereas role-playing and table-top role-play games (RPGs) have been proven to have potential as therapeutic tools, playing RPGs is often stereotypically associated with social incompetence and psychiatric disorders. Knowledge regarding the stereotype and its implications is very scarce specifically among mental health practitioners. Therefore the present study aimed to narrow this gap in knowledge by examining the perception of Social Workers that are considered to be the forefront of mental health-care, in regard to the association between playing RPGs and mental health. A convenience sample of 130 Social Workers, recruited through social networks (e.g. Facebook, WhatsApp etc.), responded to an on-line survey dealing with their perception of their own knowledge on RPGs, the importance of such knowledge and the association between playing RPGs and mental illness. Results indicated an association between having higher knowledge of RPGs and lower perception of a link between playing RPGs and psychopathology. The study's findings emphasize the false stigma and its potential harmful implication on professionals' practice, especially in the context of intake process and primary diagnostic. The effect of familiarity is also discussed in light of the study's findings. HIGHLIGHTS: • The perception of mental health professionals toward role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons is understudied. • Social Workers' perception was measured in regard to the connection between use of RPGs and DSM-IV-TR psychopathology. • Greater knowledge of RPGs was found to be associated with lower perception of the connection between use of RPGs and DSM-IV-TR psychopathology.

[Comprehensive implementation of interprofessional quality circles regarding early prevention of childhood disadvantage in Baden Württemberg (Germany)]. / Flächendeckende Implementierung von hilfesystemübergreifenden Qualitätszirkeln zum Thema Frühe Hilfen in Baden-Württemberg.

BACKGROUND: The integration of available early interventions and healthcare for families with children by practicing pediatricians has yet to be systematically established. For this reason, the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Baden-Wuerttemberg established overarching, accredited, cross-system quality circles that serve to integrate all representatives of the healthcare system as well as child and youth welfare services. These quality circles are led by specially trained moderator tandems consisting of pediatricians and staff members from youth welfare services. OBJECTIVES: The goal was to evaluate the endpoints of the regional implementation of cross-system quality circles for early interventions in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg as well as the feasibility of establishing long-term training programs for cross-system moderator tandems. METHODS: This was a noncontrolled, longitudinal study to prepare a yearly evaluation of the quality-circle assessments as well as to gather statistics on the training of the moderator tandems within the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Baden-Wuerttemberg. RESULTS: A total of 59 moderator tandems were trained in nine separate training sessions within the project period from 2011 to 2015. Overall, 33 quality circles were founded. In 2015, 566 persons were participating in the respective circles. Over the course of the study between 26 and 33 of the 44 urban and rural districts in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg had at least one quality circle dedicated to early interventions. Ten further circles are presently in the process of being founded; 29 moderators have yet to commence their activity or have withdrawn from the program. DISCUSSION: Between 59 and 81 % of the urban and rural districts implemented cross-system quality circles. The training of the moderator tandems proceeded without complications. Because of the dropout quota of the trained moderator tandems, systematic and continual training of new tandems proves to be necessary.

Hospital Social Work and Spirituality: Views of Medical Social Workers.

This article is based on a study of 1,389 medical social workers in 108 hospitals across 12 countries, on their views on spirituality and spiritually sensitive interventions in hospital settings. Results of the logistic regression analyses and structural equation models showed that medical social workers from European countries, United States of America, Canada, and Australia, those had undergone spiritual training, and those who had higher self-reported spiritual experiences scale scores were more likely to have the view that spirituality in hospital settings is for facilitating integral healing and wellness of patients and were more likely to prefer spiritual packages of New Age movements as the form of spiritual program, understand spiritual assessment as assessing the patients' spiritual starting point, to then build on further interventions and were likely to attest the understanding of spiritual techniques as mindfulness techniques. Finally they were also likely to understand the spiritual goals of intervention in a holistic way, that is, as that of integral healing, growth of consciousness and promoting overall well-being of patients vis-à-vis only coping and coming to terms with health adversities. Results of the structural equation models also showed covariances between religion, spirituality training, and scores on the self-reported spiritual experiences scale, having thus a set of compounding effects on social workers' views on spiritual interventions in hospitals. The implications of the results for health care social work practice and curriculum are discussed.

The Role of Social Workers in Spiritual Care to Facilitate Coping With Chronic Illness and Self-Determination in Advance Care Planning.

Spiritual values and beliefs of patients and families influence resilience during chronic illness and shape patient choices during advance care planning. The spiritual needs of Baby Boomers will be more diverse than previous generations, in connection with the questioning, experimental mind-set of this group and the fact that it includes a higher proportion of immigrant populations outside the Judeo-Christian tradition. Social workers are trained explicitly to intervene with diverse populations and are well positioned to offer spiritual support in ways that do not necessarily conform to traditional religions. To the extent of their individual expertise and competence, social workers should assess and provide spiritual care to clients, including those who either are underserved or prefer not to seek assistance from clergy or chaplains because they feel alienated from religious institutions and representatives. They should also be aware of ethical dilemmas in consulting with spiritual care professionals in developing spiritual interventions. Social work education should address clients' humanistic and existential concerns, beliefs and behaviors of the major religions, and forms of nontraditional religious and spiritual experiences; it should also provide experiential opportunities for engaging with grief and earlier advance care planning. There should be attention to different theodical perspectives of the major religions regarding the problem of good and evil, which may preoccupy even clients who no longer participate in organized religion, because these unresolved existential issues may weaken client coping with chronic conditions and may diminish clarity and self-awareness for engaging authentically and effectively in advance care planning.

Vasectomy counseling and clinical social work.

PIP: The need for qualified professional counseling in cases of human sterilization is critical. Detailed information about vasectomies is provided and ways are suggested in which clinical social workers can integrate vasectomy counseling into their practice. Men who have had vasectomies generally report that physicians fail to give high priority to preoperative vasectomy counseling. The counseling given is usually in the form of basic information about the surgical procedure, frequently dispensed in a perfunctory manner. The most frequently asked questions about a vasectomy and its potential effects fall into 2 major categories: technical concerns such as how it is done, why, and when; and psychosocial concerns that deal with emotions, attitudes, and beliefs. These 2 categories represent a typology of knowledge about vasectomies that can be integrated into clinical social work. Some of the technical questions about vasectomy are outlined. The attempt is made in the remainder of the discussion to answer these questions as a 1st step in developing an appropriate knowledge base for vasectomy counseling. Additional information regarding vasectomies is presented to provide a holistic and comprehensive view of such counseling. The focus is on the surgical procedure, the psychosocial effects, cultural considerations, informed consent, and clinical practice. Clinical social workers should be involved in prevasectomy decision making and postoperative adjustment. They should have a fundamental knowledge about the medical dynamics of a vasectomy and a complete understanding of individual and family concerns as they relate to choosing vasectomy as a birth control method, and a thorough knowledge of the public's concerns regarding birth control. It is critically important for social work as a profession to become involved in counseling for this increasingly used fertility control method.^ieng

Health professionals' perceptions of the psychological consequences of abortion.

Measures of depression, guilt, and state and trait anxiety were administered to doctors, nurses, and social workers under two conditions, self-report and role play. In the role-play condition, they were asked to complete the questions as would a woman who had undergone an abortion the previous day. Half of the subjects in each group were experienced with abortion patients, and half were inexperienced students. All three professional groups expected extreme depression, guilt, and anxiety on the part of the abortion patient, when compared with their own scores. These expectations do not match the experience reported by abortion patients in this and other studies. As previously found, nurses were more extreme in their attitudes; but this is explained in terms of their self-report data, which were also more extreme on all measures.

PIP: Measures of depression, guilt, and state and trait anxiety were administered to doctors, nurses, and social workers under 2 conditions, self-report and role play. In the role play condition, they were asked to complete the questions as a woman who had just undergone an abortion the previous day would complete them. 1/2 of the subjects in each group were experienced with abortion patients and 1/2 were inexperienced students. All 3 professional groups expected extreme depression, guilt, and anxiety on the part of the abortion patient, when compared to their own scores. These expectations do not match the experience reported by aborton patients in this and other studies. As previously found, nurses were more extreme in their attitudes; but this is explained in terms of their self-report data, which were also more extreme on all measures.