Spirituality In Social Work Practice Research Articles

Spirituality in Social Work Practice With Young College Students: A Validation Study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to make an adaptation of the Spirituality Measurement Scale into Turkish to evaluate the spirituality of clients for social workers. Methods: A total of 385 students from the Department of Social Work at Ankara University, were included in the research. The online survey method was used as a data collection method. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a 5-factor model with 38 items similar to the original study. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found as 0.919 and test-retest reliability was 0.868 in this study. Also, concurrent validity analysis results confirmed that higher spirituality is associated with more positive life orientation and higher life satisfaction. Discussion: This study suggests that the Turkish Spirituality Measurement Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool to be used in the social work field. Spirituality can be evaluated in the field of mental health in youth welfare.

The views of social work practitioners with regards to religion and spirituality at the interface of social work practice with children and adolescents

ABSTRACT Although a trail of evidence has grown that supports the salience of spirituality in social work practice, little exists with regard to spiritually based intervention with children and adolescents. In order to bridge this scholarly gap, this study sought to investigate the attitudes and practice interventions amongst a group of social work practitioners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to gather data from 193 social workers who worked at the interface of children and youth. The study found high levels of personal religiosity and spirituality amongst the sample and significant support for the role of religion and spirituality in a social work context.

PEKERJA SOSIAL BERBASIS AGAMA DALAM PERSPEKTIF AL-QUR’AN

This paper seeks to analyze how social work can utilize religion aspect as a basic for social work practices and how the Koran’s prespectives toward social work based on religion. The paper deals particularly with the four issues as follows: (1) how is the role of religion toward social work practices; (2) how is the integration between religion and spirituality in social work practice; (3) what is the problem and challenge for religion social worker based on religion; (4) how is the opportunity and career prospect for social worker based on religion in Indonesia. The paper focuses its analysis on the social work of religion and its connection in Koran. The basic argument developed throughout this paper is that social worker can utilize religion aspect for their practices during intervention and assessment process. My paper also use Koran’s prespectives to view how is a social worker practice their ability to handle client’s case religion. Keywords : social work, religion, Koran

Charting the Development of Spirituality in Social Work in the Second Decade of the 21st Century: A Critical Commentary

Abstract This article provides a critical commentary on the place of spirituality in social work scholarship in the second decade of the twenty-first century. Compared with previous decades, the applications of spirituality within social work have expanded, and understandings of what spirituality entails have become more nuanced. In part, this reflects an intention and methodology which enabled scholarship from beyond the Anglosphere to be included in this commentary, including the perspectives of indigenous peoples. Three key issues were identified in the literature: a lack of consensus as to how spirituality is understood, including whether it can be measured; the broadening scope for spirituality in social work practice, including growing recognition that spirituality has a role beyond direct practice in social policy and advocacy work; and the impact on social workers or holistic practice models which acknowledge the spirituality of service users and consequences of this for social work education. Although there are many positives to have emerged from this growing acceptance of a legitimate place for spirituality in social work, social workers need to take care to ensure that the ways they incorporate spirituality into their practice is not harmful to service users.

The importance of religion and spirituality in social work practice to strengthen practitioners, communities, couples, and individuals and in the cultivation of a praxis of love

This volume of the Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought begins with an article that examines an under-researched area of religion and spirituality in social work, tha...

Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents: A Survey of Canadian Practitioners

Empirical evidence about the relevance of religion/spirituality for children and adolescents contrasts with the limited number of studies inquiring about the role of religion/spirituality when working with this population. In response to this lack of knowledge, this study explored the professional attitudes, experiences, and practice behaviors of social workers and social service workers working with youth and determined the predictive factors for using spiritually-derived interventions. A cross-sectional survey design, with proportionate stratified sampling, was used to gather data from 307 Canadian social workers and social service workers working with youth in Ontario (response rate was 40%, with 5.06% margin of error). Respondents reported favorable views toward the role of religion/spirituality in social work practice, in general. They also reported positive attitudes about the relevancy of religion/spirituality for this population and somewhat frequent encounters with religious/spiritual abuse and neglect. They used a wide variety of spiritually-derived interventions; however, over two-thirds (69%) reported their formal education “never” or “rarely” included content on the topic. Barriers to using spiritually-derived interventions included: lack of knowledge/experience, concern about presenting one's own bias, disapproval from caregivers, and lack of agency/supervisor support. Multiple regression analysis revealed two assessment variables, two attitudinal variables, one education/training variable, and one personal religious/spiritual variable predictive of the use of spiritually-derived interventions, accounting for 55% of the variance. Findings suggest a need for emphasizing spiritually-sensitive practice guidelines and for social work education and continuing education to include content about religious/spiritual diversity as well as content about spiritual development that includes spirituality in childhood.

A look into spirituality in social work practice within the hospice setting

ABSTRACTSocial workers are part of the multidisciplinary team providing holistic care to people within the hospice setting; however, concerns exist about the preparation of social workers to address spiritual issues. An exploratory qualitative study with 16 experienced hospice social workers was conducted to examine the impact of hospice work on social worker spirituality and vice versa. Results indicated that matters involving spirituality arose frequently in the work and 15 participants had offered spiritual care to a patient in need, despite many of them not feeling prepared by their education to do so. Implications for social work hospice practice and for social work education are discussed.

The Integration of Clients' Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Practice: A National Survey.

This article describes the results of a cross-sectional study of licensed clinical social workers' (LCSWs') views and behaviors related to integrating clients' religion and spirituality in clinical practice. A total of 442 LCSWs from across the United States who advertised their services on the Internet provided anonymous responses to an online administration of the Religious/Spiritually Integrated Practice Assessment Scale. The results indicate that LCSWs have positive attitudes, high levels of self-efficacy, and perceive such integration as feasible, but report low levels of engagement in integrating clients' religious and spiritual beliefs into practice. Moreover, two variables emerged as significant predictors for LCSWs' overall orientation toward integrating clients' religion and spirituality in practice: practitioners' intrinsic religiosity and prior training (prior course work or continuing education). Implications and next steps for social work education and continuing training efforts are discussed.

Spirituality in Social Work Practice

This article traces the origins of spirituality in clinical social work and psychotherapy from the nineteenth century to contemporary practice. Cases involving bereavement, terminal illness, and immigration often incorporate spirituality into traditional treatment. The author discusses his own spiritual journey, and the incorporation of spirituality into his work with agency-based clients. He also draws a distinction between religion and spirituality, noting the importance of including the latter into work with interested clients.

How Spiritual Are Social Workers? An Exploration of Social Work Practitioners' Personal Spiritual Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practices

Utilizing a national random sample of 225 members of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), this study examined practitioners' personal spiritual beliefs, their attitudes regarding the role of religion and spirituality in social work, and factors that might predict practitioners' use of religious and spiritual interventions. Findings suggest religion and spirituality plays an important role in respondents' personal and professional lives. A multiple regression analysis indicates that older respondents, with a stronger positive attitude regarding the role of religion and spirituality in social work practice were more likely to utilize spiritual practices or interventions.

Ethics of the Spirit: Comparing Ethical Views and Usages of Spiritually Influenced Interventions

Social work practice takes many different forms, depending on purpose and context. An increased diversity in fields and methods of practice has driven the need to explore the intersection between acceptable standards of practice and issues pertaining to religion and spirituality. This discussion utilises the opportunity to co-report on the findings of a selection of similar questions gathered from two independent online survey studies, conducted one year apart, with members of the Australian Association of Social Workers. One study explored attitudes and behaviours about ethical conduct, and the other investigated the role of religion and spirituality in social work practice. Findings from the questions in common, about the acceptability and practice of spiritually-influenced forms of intervention, are presented. These indicate a degree of acceptance, conditional acceptance, and usage for some interventions, and clear non-acceptance and non-usage of others. Implications for ethical thinking in practice, education, and research are explored.

Who Am I? An Essay on Inclusion and Spiritual Growth through Community and Mutual Appreciation

This article, a keynote delivered to the First North American Conference on Spirituality and Social Work 2006, poses the question “Who Am I?” in relation to us as individuals and as social work practitioners who give importance to the historical foundations and the current necessity of spirituality in social work practice. The article considers this question in the context of not succumbing to the bullshit of capitalist estrangement, finding our sources of inspiration, finding and experiencing our soul's destiny, understanding our diverse collection of spiritual foundations, being surprised, and thus reclaiming the meaning of happiness.

Religion and spirituality in social work practice and education in a cross-cultural context: findings from a Norwegian and UK study

As service populations have changed, social workers in Norway and the UK have responded to the needs of diverse cultures, which often include issues of religion and spirituality. Members of the Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers (FO) and the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) were sampled to explore attitudes regarding the placement of religion and spirituality in practice and education. UK workers were generally more accepting of religion and spirituality than their Norwegian colleagues. Factors such as secularism, differences in the educational systems, and different historical trajectories in the profession's development may contribute to differences between the UK and Norway. The authors recommend additional research in each country regarding the role of religion and spirituality in social work education and practice, the general culture, the bureaucratic delivery of social services, client and social worker interactions, and in the stratification of social class.

Disability and Spirituality in Social Work Practice

In working with social work clients, issues of religion and spirituality are sure to arise. Religious views on disability can have both positive and negative effects on the individual. In our increasingly pluralistic society, these issues must be approached with sensitivity and patience since it is common to work with adherents of minority or nontraditional religious groups or groups whose values conflict with the social work profession. The purpose of this article is to enhance and develop sensitivity to diverse religious views in order to respect the values and life beliefs of the client while enhancing the development of adaptive religious and spiritual views.

An International Analysis of the Role of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Practice

As service populations have changed, social workers in Norway and the United States have attempted to respond to the needs of diverse cultures, which often include issues of religion and spirituality. Members of the Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers (FO) and the U.S. National Association of Social Workers (NASW) were sampled to explore attitudes and perceptions of social workers regarding the placement of religion and spirituality in practice. In general, U.S. social workers were more accepting of religion and spirituality than their Norwegian colleagues. Factors such as secularism, functional differences of church and state relations, and different historical trajectories in the social work profession's development in both countries may contribute to differences between the U.S. and Norway.

Social Work, Spirituality, and Diasporic Communities

The discourse surrounding the role of spirituality in social work practice has been expanding exponentially in recent years. Similarly, the discourse surrounding the role of spirituality among diasporic communities has expanded in recent times as well. In this paper, we will consider the linkages between social work, spirituality, and diaspora. We will focus our discussion on a particular diasporic spiritual community, the Sathya Sai Baba movement and its social service activities. We will then consider the implications of such spiritual movements for the social work profession. Among the key issues explored in this paper are the change in the social construction of populations that have moved between two countries as 'immigrant communities' to 'diasporic communities' and the implications of these changes for social work. Another critical issue we discuss is how working with spiritual movements may help address the 'spiritual deficit' concern that some social work academics have referred to, and indirectly at least, we begin to address 'the social work crisis' issue that has negatively affected the social work profession over the last few years.

The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Practice: Views and Experiences of Social Workers and Students

Findings from surveys of qualified social work practitioners and students indicate a need for social work education and practice to focus attention both on the importance of religious and spiritual beliefs in the lives of many service users and on the potential usefulness of religious and spiritual interventions. In this British study, undertaken in 2003 and 2004, students were less likely than their qualified colleagues to consider religious or spiritually sensitive interventions as appropriate. Attitudes varied little between those students who held religious beliefs and those who did not, but Muslim students and qualified social workers were more likely to view these types of interventions as appropriate. The authors conclude that there is a clear need for all social work practitioners and educators to give greater priority to exploring the potential significance of religious and spiritual beliefs in their training, in their professional practice and in the lives and perspectives of service users and colleagues. Social workers need to be able to respond appropriately to the needs of all service users, including those for whom religious and spiritual beliefs are crucial. ‘Culturally competent’ practice depends, amongst other things, on an understanding and appreciation of the impact of faith and belief.

Magic happens: Revisiting the spirituality and social work debate

The social work profession is currently undergoing a resurgence of interest regarding the issue of spirituality in social work. This article attempts to summarise and explore the debate so far and to discuss the implications of this in a practice context. Current issues including definitions of spirituality and the key concerns in the areas of both practice and education are addressed. The article concludes with an overview of a model of spiritually sensitive social work practice, and poses options for further professional reflection on the place of spirituality in social work practice.

Magic happens: revisiting the spirituality and social work debate

Abstract The social work profession is currently undergoing a resurgence of interest regarding the issue of spirituality in social work. This article attempts to summarise and explore the debate so far and to discuss the implications of this in a practice context. Current issues including definitions of spirituality and the key concerns in the areas of both practice and education are addressed. The article concludes with an overview of a model of spiritually sensitive social work practice, and poses options for further professional reflection on the place of spirituality in social work practice.

The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Education and Practice

This study investigated 208 students from two schools of social work on their views and experiences with religion and spirituality in education and practice. Results revealed a generally favorable stance toward the role of religion and spirituality in social work practice and relatively high endorsement and utilization of spiritually oriented interventions with clients. These findings are striking given that the majority of respondents reported little exposure to content on religion and spirituality in their educational program, thus raising concern about potential harm to clients. Results from the study are compared with previous research on social work practitioners and faculty, and implications for social work education are presented.