Using participatory research to help promote the physical and mental health of female social workers in child welfare.
Forty female workers from child welfare agencies were interviewed in focus groups regarding the positive and negative aspects of their work, their perceptions of its effects on their physical and mental health, and what they did in response to either cope or to protect their health. The results showed that despite certain positive aspects of their work, these women overwhelmingly felt that their work had adversely affected both their physical and mental health, and that they used a variety of strategies (both problem focused and emotion focused) to cope. Implications are discussed in terms of the need for intervention at the micro-, mezzo-, and macrolevels, as well as in terms of the appropriateness of participatory research methods for future studies with this population.
Gold
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School of Social Work, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005783:Gender Identity; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D012107:Research Design; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012947:Social Work; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*