Social Work Commons^™

Lgbtqia+ People And Religious Trauma, Cira Abiseid

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), intersex, and asexual people (LGBTQIA+) experience religious trauma caused by the harmful messaging often aimed at sexual and gender minorities. Identity dissonance can be created when LGBTQIA+ people find their religious and sexual or gender minority identities at odds with each other. A review of existing literature revealed themes of identity erasure, internalized homophobia, and resilience, but there was limited research involving this population. This qualitative study centers the voices of those who have experienced religious trauma based on their identities and works to understand their healing journeys. Fifteen LGBTQIA+ individuals participated …

Queer Need In The Natural State: An Exploratory Needs Assessment Of The 2slgbtqia+ Community In Northwest Arkansas, Leea Jean Johnson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the current needs of the 2sLGBTQIA+ community in Northwest Arkansas between the ages of 18-40 and what their experiences have been attempting to get their needs met. Eight semi-structured interviews were completed with members of the 2sLGBTQIA+ population, and ethical considerations were made throughout the process. The findings of this study were expansive and included six overarching themes with various subthemes. The findings report on the specific needs outlined by participants, how participants found the resources to meet their needs, and common positive and negative experiences that participants identified in the process. Findings showed that intersectional identities …

Best Practices For Social Workers Engaging With Spiritual/Religious Clients, Stewart J. Smith Mr.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This research examined what Canadian social workers should consider when engaging therapeutically with clients for whom spirituality/religion is of central importance. There are several challenges in examining this issue in Canada (the north section of Turtle Island). One is the oppression of Indigenous peoples’ spirituality by colonizers imposing various Christian denominational spiritual/religious views. There has also been a trend of Christian practice declining in church worship among settler people, although Christianity remains part of the dominant cultural norms. Like many of the helping professions, social work has little to no education/training related to spirituality/religion and clinical work. This move away …

Religiosity And Midwestern Lgbtq+ Homeless Youth, Alecia Keller, Nancy Kelley

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Previous investigations have focused on the intersections of LGBTQ+ youth and religion, homelessness and religion, or homeless LGBTQ+ youth, without recognizing the multiple intersections that make up each LGBTQ+ youth’s identity. The purpose of this study was to gain more insight into how being homeless, identifying as LGBTQ+, and growing up with some religion played a role in transitional-aged (ages eighteen to twenty-five) youths’ lives. After working with Youth Emergency Services (YES) in Omaha, Nebraska, and conducting interviews with LGBTQ+ youth who were previously homeless, similar topics emerged among participants. Three participants were evicted from their homes because of their …

The Impact Of Religion And Spirituality On County Child Welfare Workers, Celeste Ramos, Sonia Magdaleno Ayamel

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aims to identify and analyze how county child welfare workers can utilize their own religious and spiritual beliefs to alleviate some of the work-related stress. In addition, the study will examine how participating in religious or spiritual support groups will benefit county child welfare workers. The findings may encourage social workers to rely on their respective religious and spiritual beliefs while dealing with difficult situations.

Adrift In Uncharted Waters: A Case Study Of A Muslim Family Involved With Child Protection Services In Ontario, Bibi Baksh

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation sought to understand how Muslims experience mandated child protection services in Ontario within the Canadian (and specifically, Ontarian) socio-political context. Ongoing experiences of racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia within systems that intersect with child welfare, including schools and the criminal justice system, have compounding effects on Muslim families who are singled out politically and socially. Drawing from trends in child welfare literature, policy initiatives, and practices that consider the system’s impacts upon racialized peoples, this research contributes to the discourse by highlighting religious diversity as an under-investigated source of discrimination. Set against systemic challenges inherent in the child protection …

Embracing Entrepreneurship, Naomy Sengebwila, Naomy Nyendwa Sengebwila

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Embracing Entrepreneurship

How Christian Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship can Lead to Sustainable Communities in Zambia and Globally

Embracing Entrepreneurship

A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry by

Name of Student

Naomy Nyendwa Sengebwila

Name of Student: Naomy Nyendwa Sengebwila

Date: 03/31/2021

How Christian Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Can Lead to Sustainable Communities in Zambia and globally

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …

Mental Health Among The Latinx Population, Jocelyn Mendoza Sierra

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mental health in the Latinx community has been stigmatized for several years. In the Latinx community mental health is disregarded and oftentimes not addressed and overlooked by immediate family members. The purpose of this study is to address the reason why people do not access mental health services. The methods used in this study consisted of a qualitative approach and participants were asked open ended questions. A total of eleven participants (N=11) were gathered and consisted of both female and male participants who identify as Latinxs. The key findings from this research indicate that seeking mental health services was viewed …

A Theology Of Compassion: Encouraging Local Church Ministry To Children In Foster Care, Allen Griffin

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Compassionate care within the local community of a church is of vital essence to a thriving church ministry. For centuries church leaders have endeavored to make an impact in the lives of the people living in their vicinity through outreach efforts. The compassion of the local church is needed in the area of children in foster care. Through the analysis of two church programs focused on serving the spiritual, educational, and social needs of teens in the foster care system, this dissertation will examine how to assist local churches in establishing a program to serve the children in their local …

Religion And Spirituality In Social Work, Caleb Mccoy

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper reviews 15 different articles discussing the current state of religion and spirituality (RS) in the social work (SW) field. The 15 articles cover various topics in both SW education and practice. Social workers’ as well as clients’ feelings towards the incorporation of RS into SW practice are presented. Ethical standards regarding the treatment of RS in SW practice is discussed. Finally, a review of the effectiveness of treatments utilizing RS is presented. It was found that there is a lack of education to properly train social workers to incorporate RS into their daily practice. There is also a …

Social Work Students' View On The Integration Of Religion In Social Work, Araceli Delgado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study focused on social work students’ views on the integration of religion in social work. This study allowed students to gain knowledge and insight on the importance of discussing religion with clients. The study examined social worker students’ experiences during their involvement in the social work program which looked into how prepared they were in situations where religion was necessary to discuss with clients and other outcomes.

Qualitative interviews were conducted with ten participants who discussed their experiences in internships during their involvement within the social work program. Participants were in different years in the BASW and MSW program …

Religion And Spirituality In Clinical Practice: An Exploration Of Reluctance Among Practitioners., David Drew, Jessica Banks

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Across the United States, an overwhelming majority of the population claim that religion and spirituality beliefs shape their worldview and assist in coping with life stressors. Yet, the literature has shown that mental health practitioners reported discomfort integrating religion and spiritually in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to explore whether license-holding mental health professionals in Southern California develop reluctance toward addressing religion/spirituality with their clients. Through snowball sampling, 52 clinicians composed of social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists were recruited across Southern California (N =52). The participants were measured descriptively based on …

Religion And Mental Health Service Utilization Among Hispanic Communities, Victor Ortega

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aims to describe the relationship between religion and mental health utilization as perceived through Hispanic (Spanish speaking) individuals in religious communities. Previous studies have conducted research on the relationship between utilization of mental health services and religiosity, however there is limited research that describes the relationship between the two variables within the Hispanic population. This study seeks to find what the perception of mental health utilization is within the Hispanic community. Research has been conducted through a qualitative approach by interviews with individuals who have consented to be audio recorded. The data was then transcribed, for the purposes …

Religion And Resiliency Among Female Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Holders, Sahil K. Gilani

Social Work Theses

This thesis analyzed the relationship between the religiosity of four newly-arrived female Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders in the Dallas area and its impact on their resiliency, coping, and outlook on their new lives in the United States. The research was conducted through a phenomenological qualitative approach, which allowed the researcher to capture the lived experiences, feelings, and meanings that female SIVs attach to certain phenomena in their social environment (Husserl, 2012). The study hoped to add to the existing evidence-based research and knowledge on the efficacy, or lack thereof, of using religion as a coping mechanism.

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Religion And Spirituality And Acculturation Stress Among International Students In The Western Massachusetts, Mun Ying Kennis Cheng

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This quantitative study examined the relationship between religion and spirituality and acculturative stress among international students (n=38) in two colleges in Western Massachusetts. This study utilized three well-validated tools to measure acculturative stress for international students, religion and spirituality, and intrinsic religious motivation to test the hypothesis that religion and spirituality can help international students lessen their acculturative stress. The findings suggested no significant correlation between the variables, possibly due to a small sample size. The results showed that over 55% of students had some type of religious affiliation, and over 63% indicated they either attended churches or practiced meditation …

The Role Of Spirituality In The Reconstruction Of Identity In Older Women, Elin Hardenberg

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study examines whether spirituality plays a role in how older women integrate changes in their identity as they age. The research questions guiding this study are: 1) how do women navigate changes in identity in older adulthood; and 2) what role does spirituality play in the reconstruction of a woman’s identity in older adulthood? Erikson’s stages of development are used as a framework for understanding where participants are in their developmental process. The study was conducted by interviewing six women between the ages of seventy and ninety who self-identified as having an opinion about their relationship to spirituality. It …

The Construction Of Religion In Social Work Education, Michael Waldon

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This social work master's thesis used a qualitative study design involving non-random sampling of syllabi at accredited master's level social work programs around the United States in order to address the question, "How is religion constructed in social work education?" Materials addressing religion were extracted from syllabi used in first year required practice classes at 15 schools in five different geographic regions around the country. The texts were then analyzed using the techniques of discourse analysis (Carbó, Ahumada, Caballero, & Argüelles, 2016), an approach that considers the active function of language, tending to structure our thinking about abstract concepts and …

Resilience In Seeking Refuge: Religious Coping Strategies In Muslim Refugees From Syria, Nabiha Hasan

Social Work Theses

The recent shift of attention onto Syrian refugees has resulted in much media coverage and discussion regarding this population. This study delved into the religious coping strategies of Muslim refugees from Syria. Participants were derived through a DFW-based nonprofit organization. Questions asked of participants were including but not limited to resiliency and religious coping mechanisms. Major themes developed from this study included: religious ideologies, challenges as new religious minorities in the United States, resettlement issues, and benefits of resettlement. Results showed high correlation between resilience and religious beliefs.

Familial Relationships Among Muslim Couples And Parents In The United States: A Qualitative Study, Zahra Aqeel Alghafli

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Since September 11, 2001, Islam has been the center of many debates, discussions, parodies, and publications. Many Muslims feel that their religion has been portrayed unfairly in Western media. The topics that seem to generate the most criticism relate to gender roles and the treatment of women, both inside the home and in society. The purpose of this project is to employ a qualitative, in-depth interview approach to examine the perceived role of Islam on marital and familial relationships from insiders’ perspectives and to present participants’ reflections on sensitive issues, including gender roles, women’s rights, the concept of Hijab, religious …

The Role Of Spirituality/Religion As A Coping Mechanism During Treatment For Disordered Eating, David Franczyk

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of spirituality/religion used as a coping mechanism during treatment for disordered eating. Given the mixed outcome results of current therapeutic and pharmacological treatment methods for disordered eating, it is important to investigate other factors which may influence the treatment process. This study evaluated the role of spirituality/religion used as a coping mechanism among 61 patients who were admitted into an eating disorder treatment program and then discharged over a period of 15 months. In this quantitative study, the Brief RCOPE measure was self-administered at admission to determine the levels of …

Agency Or Agencies? Catalysts Of Resilience In Drop-In Participants, Andy D. Bayer

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In this thesis, the factors that contribute to resilience are explored in a sample of participants who attend a food bank/clothing bank drop-in program in North Hamilton, Ontario. Resilience is defined as obtaining positive outcomes despite a level of risk to development. This thesis expands on the literature clarifying the concept of resilience. This thesis also contributes importantly to the smaller amount of literature on resilience in adults and older adults. Purposive sampling was used to obtain participants from the drop-in program at which the researcher volunteers. Phenomenology was utilized for this research, semi-structured interviews were used for data collection, …

Jewish Perspectives On Christian Privilege: A Consensual Qualitative Study, Robert Kinney

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Although multicultural considerations, privilege, and oppression are of current interest across the field, much of the extant research has failed to explore religiosity as a component of the psychological literature. Using Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) the authors set out to gain an understanding of Christian privilege and the impact it has on Jewish Identity. A sample of 12 adult, American, non-Orthodox Jews were interviewed using a semi-structured interview protocol. The interview data was collected to better understand the manifestations of Christian privilege and the impact of said issues on participant’s lives and identities. Seven themes were identified (1) Personal Conceptualization …

Domestic Violence And Faith Communities : An Exploratory Study Examining Beliefs And Experiences Of Jews, Non-Jews, And Rabbis, Amanda Sisselman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Purpose and Background: The current study examines the link between beliefs and experiences around domestic violence and religion, seeking to understand more about the ways in which Jews understand and experience domestic violence, while also looking to examine the context of these results in terms of religious comparison. The literature shows a preliminary connection between religion and domestic violence, in that victims have utilized their faith and faith communities as coping resources, but have also reported negative experiences within their religious communities. The literature only alludes to potential connections between beliefs regarding domestic violence and religion. Existing studies use mainly …

The Involvement Of Gay Men In The Lutheran Church, Mary E. Vorhes

Theses and Graduate Projects

Gay men have varying degrees of involvement in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This exploratory, qualitative study looked at the participation of gay men in Reconciling-In-Chnst (RIC) Lutheran congregations, what has affected that participation, and how the participants feel about their involvement in the Lutheran Church. Five gay men between the ages of 40-60 were interviewed regarding how they feel about their participation in the Lutheran church. The findings indicate that some participants left the church at some time, that all participants are curently active in the Lutheran Church, and that all participants are dissatisfied with the ELCA …