Journal of Critical Psychology Counselling and Psychotherapy, 4(4), Winter 2004, pp.223-232.
States that stress in social work emphasises psychology over materiality, positioning professionals as vulnerable to service users. Discusses the social context of stress discourse, stress in social services, problematising stress, stress as metaphor, and mediating the stress discourse. Concludes that, rather than being seen as an 'illness', stress should be seen as a historical development
States that stress in social work emphasises psychology over materiality, positioning professionals as vulnerable to service users. Discusses the social context of stress discourse, stress in social services, problematising stress, stress as metaphor, and mediating the stress discourse. Concludes that, rather than being seen as an 'illness', stress should be seen as a historical development carried in discourse and shaped by political, cultural and social factors. Social workers should take umbrage at their portrayal as weak and vulnerable, unable to cope without expert intervention or protection.
Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma, 9(1/2), 2004, pp.97-108.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
The terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001 stimulated an unprecedented rapid response by the social and health research communities into the aftermath. This article summarizes the findings of the major studies that assessed various types of “psychological distress,” and identifies some of the important gaps that remain in our understanding of the nature and etiology of human distress following purposeful, unpredictable mass violence.
The terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001 stimulated an unprecedented rapid response by the social and health research communities into the aftermath. This article summarizes the findings of the major studies that assessed various types of “psychological distress,” and identifies some of the important gaps that remain in our understanding of the nature and etiology of human distress following purposeful, unpredictable mass violence.
Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) is one of the original components of comprehensive critical incident stress management and its efficacy is under increasing debate. This article presents CISD through the lens of participants that are secondarily traumatised by their involvement in a horrific automobile accident. The process of conducting a CISD is examined through case illustration
Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) is one of the original components of comprehensive critical incident stress management and its efficacy is under increasing debate. This article presents CISD through the lens of participants that are secondarily traumatised by their involvement in a horrific automobile accident. The process of conducting a CISD is examined through case illustration, and its potential to increase trauma symptoms in some individuals through an interruption of the natural adaptive process is discussed. Presents implications for group workers.
Subject terms:
post traumatic stress disorder, stress, traumas, groupwork;
Argues that an emphasis on recruitment is not enough on its own and needs to be supported by a commitment to retention - in some places staff are leaving faster than they can be replaced. A key part of retention in making sure unacceptable levels of pressure are not driving people away. Argues that stress needs to be taken more seriously as an organisational responsibility.
Argues that an emphasis on recruitment is not enough on its own and needs to be supported by a commitment to retention - in some places staff are leaving faster than they can be replaced. A key part of retention in making sure unacceptable levels of pressure are not driving people away. Argues that stress needs to be taken more seriously as an organisational responsibility.
Subject terms:
organisations, recruitment, social workers, stress;
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 21(5), October 2004, pp.457-476.
Publisher:
Springer
Assesses the existence and nature of parenting stress among 187 adolescent mothers over 2 and a half years across their eldest child's pre-school years. Although the majority did not report elevated levels of stress, approximately 30% of the sample reported clinically high levels of stress at any one of the 6 measurement points. Criticism from a parent regarding their childrearing and intimate...
Assesses the existence and nature of parenting stress among 187 adolescent mothers over 2 and a half years across their eldest child's pre-school years. Although the majority did not report elevated levels of stress, approximately 30% of the sample reported clinically high levels of stress at any one of the 6 measurement points. Criticism from a parent regarding their childrearing and intimate partner violence were both found to be related to perceptions of parenting stress. Implications for practice, including the use of the Parenting Stress Index as a clinical screening tool, are noted.
In rural Africa south of the Sahara most AIDS care is provided at home by relatives. Caring for sufferers is assumed to be a substantial burden, but little is known from the perspectives of care providers. Interviews, supplemented with survey data from a larger study in rural Malawi, were used to investigate this issue, focusing on the caregivers' diagnoses of their patients' illness, the type and duration of care, support from relatives and other community members, and the extent to which caregiving was experienced as an emotional, physical, and financial burden. Although none of the caregivers knew of a formal diagnosis and few explicitly named their relative's disease as AIDS, most appeared to suspect it. They described the illness using the typical symptoms of AIDS as locally understood and sometimes related the illness to their patient's sexual history. The care, typically given by close female relatives, was limited to that which would be given to anyone seriously ill. What was striking, however, was the caregivers' compassion and their attempts to provide the best care possible in their circumstances. For most, kin and community members provided social, moral, and physical support, and modest financial assistance. Caregiving was physically and emotionally demanding and confined the caregivers to home, but most did not consider caregiving a problem primarily because the patients were close relatives. The financial impact was typically modest because the caregivers had very little income and few possessions to sell.
In rural Africa south of the Sahara most AIDS care is provided at home by relatives. Caring for sufferers is assumed to be a substantial burden, but little is known from the perspectives of care providers. Interviews, supplemented with survey data from a larger study in rural Malawi, were used to investigate this issue, focusing on the caregivers' diagnoses of their patients' illness, the type and duration of care, support from relatives and other community members, and the extent to which caregiving was experienced as an emotional, physical, and financial burden. Although none of the caregivers knew of a formal diagnosis and few explicitly named their relative's disease as AIDS, most appeared to suspect it. They described the illness using the typical symptoms of AIDS as locally understood and sometimes related the illness to their patient's sexual history. The care, typically given by close female relatives, was limited to that which would be given to anyone seriously ill. What was striking, however, was the caregivers' compassion and their attempts to provide the best care possible in their circumstances. For most, kin and community members provided social, moral, and physical support, and modest financial assistance. Caregiving was physically and emotionally demanding and confined the caregivers to home, but most did not consider caregiving a problem primarily because the patients were close relatives. The financial impact was typically modest because the caregivers had very little income and few possessions to sell.
British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 32(3), August 2004, pp.357-366.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Surveyed 165 care professionals on their experience of workplace bullying, showing that in a 2-year period 40% had been bullied and 68% had observed bullying taking place. Of the 67 care professionals that had been bullied 44% were experiencing high levels of post traumatic stress disorder symptoms. However, when these results were examined further it was found the symptoms clustered rather
Surveyed 165 care professionals on their experience of workplace bullying, showing that in a 2-year period 40% had been bullied and 68% had observed bullying taking place. Of the 67 care professionals that had been bullied 44% were experiencing high levels of post traumatic stress disorder symptoms. However, when these results were examined further it was found the symptoms clustered rather differently to those of victims of other forms of trauma. In bullying victims the symptoms of arousal and re-experience formed a single cluster with avoidance remaining as a separate cluster. These results are challenging in both the classification of PTSD and for the treatment of bullying victims.
Subject terms:
post traumatic stress disorder, stress, bullying, employment;
Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 4(1), July 2004, pp.4-8.
Publisher:
Wiley
Explores the experience of being black in the workplace and its impact on the worker's wellbeing. The paper is primarily aimed at counselling and psychotherapy practitioners who meet issues of workplace conflict (defined as complex and enduring situations arising from diverse forms of harassment) in their practice and the resulting stress and trauma. Bullying, scapegoating and other...
Explores the experience of being black in the workplace and its impact on the worker's wellbeing. The paper is primarily aimed at counselling and psychotherapy practitioners who meet issues of workplace conflict (defined as complex and enduring situations arising from diverse forms of harassment) in their practice and the resulting stress and trauma. Bullying, scapegoating and other discriminatory and oppressive practices affecting health, esteem and performance are included. Reports findings from the author's doctoral research project which investigated and sought to understand the specific experience and nature of workplace conflict for black workers in the National Health Service, education and social services. Inspiration came from psychotherapy practice, where it was repeatedly observed that black workers appeared to suffer significantly more negative and damaging effects of workplace stress and trauma than whites. These experiences are described as workplace oppression and differentiated from other workplace conflicts. Concludes that oppression contributes to invisible injuries to black workers, their voices are unheard at work, the legacy of slavery and colonialism shapes attachment patterns and relationships with whites, and the internal oppressor is evident when external oppressive situations arise.
Subject terms:
racial discrimination, stress, black and minority ethnic people, employment;
Care and Health Magazine, 11.5.04, 2004, pp.20-21.
Publisher:
Care and Health
Looks at work related stress. Focuses on a recent legal decision which suggest that if you tell your employer your workload is having a detrimental effect on your mental health and they do nothing, the employer is likely to be liable if you have a nervous breakdown.
Looks at work related stress. Focuses on a recent legal decision which suggest that if you tell your employer your workload is having a detrimental effect on your mental health and they do nothing, the employer is likely to be liable if you have a nervous breakdown.
Journal of Social Work Education, 40(1), Winter 2004, pp.105-119.
Publisher:
Council on Social Work Education
This American study used a classical pretest-posttest control group design to measure changes in participants' responses after a 45-minute seminar provided 48 undergraduate social work students with techniques on how to better handle stressful situations. When compared to the control group, responses from the students who received the seminar showed significant changes, and these students...
This American study used a classical pretest-posttest control group design to measure changes in participants' responses after a 45-minute seminar provided 48 undergraduate social work students with techniques on how to better handle stressful situations. When compared to the control group, responses from the students who received the seminar showed significant changes, and these students reported levels of stress and apprehension that were significantly lowered. These findings suggest that formal efforts are important for short-term assistance to help students cope with stress encountered during the course of their studies. Recommendations for future research and intervention in this area are made.
Subject terms:
stress, student social workers, training, evaluation;