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Investigating social work students' perceptions of elders' vulnerability and resilience
- Authors:
- KANE Michael N., LACEY Debra, GREEN Diane
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 7(4), 2009, pp.307-324.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of social work students regarding the resilience of elders and the factors that influence those perceptions, focusing on a diverse group of social work students based in Florida. The authors note that perceptions about resilience have important implications for practice and policy with elders, and how social work services may be delivered to older adults, especially older adults affected by substance abuse and/or mental illness such as depression. Four predictive variables were identified to explain perceptions regarding the resilience of older adults: perceptions of elders' vulnerability, perceptions of elders' actions to treat themselves, perceptions of elders seeking professional help, and the respondents' educational programme. The findings showed that respondents did not perceive older adults as a resilient group in areas of mental illness or substance abuse; they perceived elders as unlikely to seek professional help, vulnerable, marginalised, and as only moderately resilient in overcoming depression or substance abuse. The authors identify implications in the study for social work educators.
Mental health characteristics of social work students: implications for social work education
- Authors:
- HORTON E. Gail, DIAZ Naelys, GREEN Diane
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 7(5), 2009, pp.458-475.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study was undertaken to describe and identify mental health and substance use characteristics of a sample of social work students located in a Florida school of social work. Results indicated that approximately 34 percent of the participants reported high levels of depressive symptoms, 12 percent had a history of suicidal ideation, and 4 percent reported having thought about suicide recently. Six percent reported high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and 3 percent were highly likely to have a dissociative disorder. High proportions of the students reported having multiple traumatic experiences. Students in this sample were less likely to report lifetime or current alcohol or marijuana use than national college student samples, but more likely to report lifetime or current use of illicit substances other than marijuana.