Social Work Commons^™

Beliefs About Religion And Spirituality Among Social Workers, Aida Araceli Pelayo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The present study focused on the social workers perspectives regarding the integration of religion and spirituality in therapy. Understanding these components will expand the knowledge of social workers and it will enhance the therapeutic relationship among clients and clinicians. It also allows social workers to provide a comprehensive service to a multicultural and diverse population. In order to provide a holistic approach, social workers need to address the issues of clients through a biopsychosocial perspective that includes religion and spirituality. For the most part, religious and spiritual people use these components in their daily lives to cope with unanswerable questions …

Internet Use And Social Isolation: Exploring The Variables, Melissa Marie Allen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Internet use is a growing trend in today’s society, and there are many variables surrounding use that can potentially affect individuals’ psychological well-being. The purpose of this study is to discover if the motivation for Internet use has a direct effect on individuals experiencing social isolation. An Explanatory Design was utilized for this study, and participants were comprised of 47 adult males and females. Quantitative data was collected for this study through use of online surveys, such as Internet use (observed motivation and frequency) survey, JongGierveld Loneliness Scale (explored emotional and social loneliness) and The Big 5 Personality Inventory (viewed …

Current And Prospective Foster Parents’ Perceptions Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Foster Youth, Shay B. Alvarez, Stephanie K. Funston

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into foster parents’ perceptions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) foster youth through a self-administered survey in an attempt to provide better care for these children. The pool of participants were varied in most areas including age, gender, ethnicity, education levels, and religiosity. However, the majority was heterosexual and had less than 2 years of experience fostering. The results showed no particular demographics, trainings, or level of experience that contribute to more or less acceptance or preparedness. This may be due to response bias, however, it is more likely due …

Do Holistic Practices As An Adjunct To Traditional Psychotherapy Affect Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (Gad-7) Scores?, Samantha Suyon Woo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effect of holistic practices on anxiety. The study used a pre-experimental design and measured any differences in outcomes in Generalized Anxiety Disorder clients as measured by General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) between the two following groups: 1) the experimental group who received holistic services in addition to traditional treatment such as psychotherapy and/or medication as compared to 2) the control group who received psychotherapy and/or medication alone. Pretest of GAD-7 at intake and post-tests at about 4 months into treatment were measured along with a holistic practice survey and analyzed post-hoc through SPSS data analysis. This …

Social Workers Perspectives Of The Protective And Risk Factors That Affect Youth In The Juvenile Justice System And Child Welfare System, Guadalupe Citlalli Torres, Victoria Vanesa Mariscal

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Youth who have experienced maltreatment and the dysfunction of multiple placements are at risk of engaging in delinquent behaviors. Studies from various professionals found specific risk and protective factors that affect youth from being involved in the juvenile justice system. The current study adds significantly literature by identifying the risk and protective factors that affect foster youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice system based on social workers perspectives. The results indicate almost 93% of the participants agreed that multiple placements, 74% agreed that physical abuse, 61% agreed that group homes, and 67% agreed that sexual abuse serve as …

The Factors Involved In Cases Of Removal Of Infants: A Social Workers' Perspective, Mindy Lizbeth Cervantes, Alma Esther Manzano

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine social workers’ perspectives on the risk factors that are associated with cases of removal of infants. A quantitative survey design was utilized, using self-administered questionnaires that were distributed electronically to social workers located in San Bernardino County. The sample consisted of 94 participants, and the majority of the participants were White, non-Hispanic females. The study found that social workers identified substance abuse, the lack of infant’s physical safety in the home along with the age of the infant, and the lack of parents’ readiness to take part of the safety plan as …

A Glimpse Into The Experience Of Family Reunion In The Lives Of Immigrants From El Salvador, Ana Cristina Diaz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explores the impact family separation had on both the child and the parent after reunification. Semi-Structured qualitative interviews were conducted. One participant was left behind by parents while they immigrated without proper documentation and eventually reunited with them. There was one mother who immigrated to reunite with her children. There were also four parent participants who left their children behind while immigrating into the United States. This study provides a glimpse of what an undocumented family reunification looks like

Beliefs About Social Workers Among Black Males, Tavon Antonio Harris

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

It’s been more than a decade since the National Institute of Mental Health (NAMI) initiated its public campaign, ‘Real Men Real Depression.’ Despite increased awareness, research and relevant studies indicate that African American / Black men continue to underutilize mental health treatment while still having the highest all-cause mortality rates of any racial/ ethnic group in the United States. When reading this statement, one must question what impact that the beliefs about ‘social workers’ through the lens of Black males in the United States, may play. This very simply, yet flammable, question not only seems pertinent but also seems to …

The Impact Of Incentive-Based Education On Mothers’ Understanding And Preparedness For Their Prenatal And Postpartum Experiences: A Reflective Study, Aubrey Nocito

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Incentive-based education has a clear purpose and vision for the populations served. It is important for these organizations to demonstrate that their impact is positive, and that resources from the community are utilized efficiently. The purpose of this study is to identify the impacts of incentive-based education on the understanding and preparedness of a mother’s prenatal and postpartum experiences. Baby Steps, a non-profit incentive-based education program, was used as the research site. Clients of Baby Steps who have been involved in the program since a time during their pregnancy and who have had their baby between 3-12 months ago participated …

Perceptions Of Mental Health Amongst Pakistani-Americans, Arifa K. Ashraf

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Out of 14.4% of Asian Americans in the state of California, and 5.4% in the United States, Pakistani-Americans are one sub-group, out of ten. Pakistani- Americans are either born in, or have familial ties back to the country of Pakistan. This research emphasizes on the lack of knowledge or awareness of mental health, and more importantly, the perceptions of mental health amongst Pakistani-Americans. The topic of mental illness within the Pakistani community is almost taboo and never spoken about with individuals outside of the family. With Islamic laws having a huge a huge influence on the Pakistani culture, people tend …

Law Enforcements Perceptions Regarding Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking And The Involvement Of Social Workers In These Cases, Adriana Lopez Baca, Melissa Marie Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is a significant issue that affects children, families, and communities throughout the United States. Due to the illegal nature of the problem, it is difficult for law enforcement to identify victims of DMST and when they are identified it is challenging to provide them with services. Because law enforcement often encounter DMST victims through first response calls or within juvenile hall, it is important to understand the collaboration efforts between social workers and law enforcement in order to provide effective services for this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to gain an understanding …

The Transgender Experience, Amanda Lynn Mileham

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of transgender people and allow participants to have a voice in describing the experience of those in the transgender community. This study was conducted utilizing qualitative analysis through individual interviews with six participants. One of the major key findings of this study was the prevalence of depression among all participants. Another key finding of this study found safety among peers to be an issue for those transitioning from male to female. From the findings, it is imperative for social work practitioners to understand this marginalized community and be sensitive …

Impact Of Reactive Attachment Disorder Training On Perceived Preparedness Of Master Of Social Work Students To Serve Individuals With Reactive Attachment Disorders, Margaret Elizbeth Perez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Common diagnoses have greater emphasis in the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program, yet there is an oversight on other disorders that are just as important to address, such as Reactive Attachment Disorders (RAD). Although researchers have determined a need for additional training and education on RAD, none have measured MSW students’ level of knowledge on RAD and whether or not it influences their perceived preparedness. The purpose of this study was to analyze the perceived preparedness of MSW students to serve children with RAD before and after participating in an educational training. The study consisted of an explanatory quantitative …

The Effects Of Forgiveness On Sustaining Sobriety In 12 Step Group Attendees, Rebecca Cornelius

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

There has been an increase of research in the area of forgiveness, particularly since the early 1980’s; however, there has been far less research done in the field of addiction and how forgiveness or the lack of forgiveness impact’s a person’s recovery. The profession of social work has a wide array of fields and services, and it is not uncommon for a social worker to work with a person abusing substances at some point in his or her career. While there are many aspects of treating and assisting client’s in their recovery, one topic that may not be discussed with …

Resettlement Challenges For Refugees In The United States, Rebecca Joie Habeeb-Silva

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored the resettlement-related challenges that refugees encounter in the United States (U.S.). It utilized a qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews with three refugee families from different countries of origin: Afghanistan, Burma, and Iraq. The interviews were analyzed through a system of coding and categorization in order to develop themes of commonly reported challenges across participants. Six dominant themes of resettlement‑related challenges were identified: employment, financial insecurities, bureaucracy, English language competency, family separation, and unfulfilled expectations and hope. The participants also reported that these challenges had negative effects on their mental health and described feeling worried and depressed. …

Predictors Of Gang Affiliation Among Adolescents: Implications For Social Work Students, Caroline G. Mcloughlin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what current Master of Social Worker Students in their advanced year know about adolescent gang affiliation, including statistics, predictive factors, and possible interventions. Adolescent gang involvement is a very serious issue that historically has had very problematic effects on society, as well as serious and troublesome effects on the life course of the individual. Despite the knowledge that has been gained in recent years regarding predictive factors of adolescent gang involvement, many intervention programs designed to address this issue are still rarely effective. Despite the fact that there are conflicting findings in …

Predictors Of Gang Affiliation Among Adolescents: Implications For Social Work Students, Caroline George Mcloughlin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what current Master of Social Worker Students in their advanced year know about adolescent gang affiliation, including statistics, predictive factors, and possible interventions. Adolescent gang involvement is a very serious issue that historically has had very problematic effects on society, as well as serious and troublesome effects on the life course of the individual. Despite the knowledge that has been gained in recent years regarding predictive factors of adolescent gang involvement, many intervention programs designed to address this issue are still rarely effective. Despite the fact that there are conflicting findings in …

Factors That Contribute To Foster Parent Turnover, Tricia M. Favela, Cristina Velazquez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Foster parents play a key role in providing care to children that have been removed from their families. The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify factors that contribute to foster parent turnover. A self-administered survey included 6 questions in each section of the following sections; interaction with agency staff, communication, and foster parent training. The study’s findings indicated that over 36% of the study’s participants reported that they were hesitant to discuss concerns with agency workers, and almost 45% were unsure of or did not believe that their worker was open and honest in providing relevant background information …

Distracted Parenting: How Social Media Affects Parent-Child Attachment, Denise Ante-Contreras

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Social media usage for parents has become ubiquitous, as either a form of entertainment or communication with other individuals. However, excessive use of social media has also shown to have effects on parenting; causing parental distraction, decreasing the level of everyday parental engagement, and making a child more likely to be at risk for injury. Studies have shown that frequent eye contact, one on one time, and undivided attention are necessary in building a secure attachment between a parent and child. The research study in question hoped to understand whether there was a correlation between the amount of hours a …

Perceived Life Satisfaction Among Gay Males: The Coming-Out Process, Kimberly D. Carter

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project was a mixed method of both a quantitative and qualitative design to examine the perception of 38 gay male’s life satisfaction post coming out. In the past few years, laws affecting the gay community have been at the forefront of policies and debates, given all communities an insight into the specific challenges that are endured. As the gay community starts to openly live their lives as a gay man, there has been a need to accept and understand not only the challenges, but to give acceptance.

Additionally, this project sought out to determine if the gay community …

Challenges Of Social Workers Giving Mental Health Services To Juveniles Who Have Been Incarcerated For Drug Use, Nathalie Marie Jones

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research examined challenges social workers face when delivering mental health services to juveniles who have been incarcerated due to drug use. Through the use of a web-based survey program a total of ten research questions were examined statistically. The research questions discussed what challenges social workers face when trying to administer services to juveniles who have been incarcerated for drug use and also what services are available to juveniles with or without a mental health problem who have been incarcerated for drug use. Questionnaires were sent out electronically, with a response rate of twenty-seven participants. SurveyMonkey® was used to …

Effects Of On-Call Work On Professional Social Workers, Evelyn Ocampo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis attempted to examine the effects of on-call work schedules on professional social workers. This was achieved through the use of a demographic survey and qualitative face-to-face and phone interviews. A total of 15 interview questions were explored, the subjects included: the impacts of on-call work on psychological, physiological, emotional well-being and work family balance of professional social workers. Participants were recruited using availability sampling and the sample size consisted of nine participants. The nine interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. The researcher identified common themes related to on-call work schedules. Results found that participants suffered familial …

Beliefs About Respite Among Caregivers, Guero Nunez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The emphasis of this research was to evaluate the beliefs about respite among caregivers of the clients associated with Inland Caregiver Resource Center. The caregivers of the elderly and those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and dementia, or suffer from traumatic brain injury that was organic in nature were the population of interest. These caregivers were unpaid persons who help to keep those with such conditions at home as long as possible. This study used an exploratory pilot survey instrument to assess the perception of benefit of respite used as seen from the view of the caregiver. The primary theory used …

Empowerment In Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (Pcit), Marlena M. Hernandez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore empowerment in Parent‑Child Interaction therapy (PCIT). Research has shown that attachment issues and child maltreatment are serious social problems that may lead to risks of child abuse and children developing mental illnesses. Interventions, like PCIT have shown to decrease these risks by improving the parent‑child interactions by enhancing parent skill levels and by decreasing parent stress levels and child behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine whether enhancing parent skills and decreasing parent stress levels would therefore increase parent empowerment. This study utilized a quantitative method to examine potential growth …

Mental Health Practitioner Stigma, Attitude, And Belief: A Multidimensional Study On Marriage And Family Therapists, Clinical Social Workers, And Clinical Psychologists, Jessica Ann De La Rosa, Ruxandra Elena Tanase

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Existing stigma in the form of negative attitudes towards individuals with severe mental illness by mental health practitioners, has the potential to set barriers towards recovery. A survey of 72 mental health practitioners from three disciplines were surveyed, in an attempt to measure mental health practitioner attitudes towards individuals with severe mental illness, and how their attitudes impact their belief in client recovery. This was a quantitative study, based on two Likert Scale surveys and distributed both in paper form and using Survey Monkey. Participants were gathered through a snowball effect, and consisted of 42 social workers, 18 marriage and …

Impact Of Assembly Bill 12 On Emancipated Foster Youth, Amber E. King

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Assembly Bill 12 was passed into law for the purpose of preparing foster youth for the transition into adulthood and provided extended support services and transitional support up to the age of 21. This qualitative study focuses on the experiences and outcome of foster youth who are participating in extended care services. Key findings were identified in the areas of education, social and emotional support, and living arrangements. These key findings provide the social workers with a better understanding of the difficulties associated with the complexity involving the transition to young adulthood. The implications of key findings have resulted in …

Substance Abuse Cycle Intervention And Prevention For Children Of Substance Abusers, Charleena Sharon Chagoya

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project addresses the substance abuse cycle intervention and prevention strategies used amongst individuals who are a part of generational substance abuse. Participants were recruited from an inpatient drug rehabilitation center in Southern California. Qualitative interviews were conducted in order to gain additional knowledge on this topic. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed by the researcher. Participants’ first hand experiences contributed to a better understanding of effective ways to address this cycle. The results consisted of the following themes: childhood substance abuse, environmental influence, Child Protective Services involvement, problem recognition, structure, counseling, relationships, higher power, positive …

Student And Faculty Perceptions Of Mandated Counseling For Master Of Social Work Students, Kasey David, Elizabeth Contreras-Estrada

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study surveyed the opinions of students and faculty about perceptions of mandated counseling for Master of Social Work (MSW) students at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). The MSW program at CSUSB does not explicitly endorse a strategy to facilitate personal growth and development, such as personal counseling. Given the evidence that counseling can help build self-awareness, reduce stress and manage mental illness, counseling can be beneficial to its students, as it relates to personal growth and professional development. This study’s significance is that it examined social work students and professionals, specifically. This study used a quantitative survey design …

Beliefs About Mental Health Services Among Emerging Adult Latinos, Ashley Maxine Cortez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Latino populations continue to utilize mental health services at lower rates than their non-Latino counterparts. This is concerning for several reasons. Mental illness, is extremely prevalent in the general population. The population of Latinos (particularly younger individuals) in the United States is rapidly increasing. Acculturation has been found to negatively impact mental health issues in Latino populations. And finally, emerging adult’s unmet mental health needs / issues place them at risk for failing to adapt to adult roles, impacting their lives in many ways. This mixed methods study implores primarily quantitative design and includes two qualitative questions to explore the …

Music Therapy Among The Elderly: What Social Workers Need To Know, Adriana Navarrete-Campos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of music therapy among the elderly. This qualitative study utilized interviews as a means to extract themes from the experiences of music therapists who have provided music therapy to the elderly. Results were transcribed to written form. Qualitative analysis procedures were followed to identify themes and subthemes. Areas of particular interest to the social work profession were the emotional, social, physical, and mental benefits and challenges of music therapy among the elderly. Through the guidance of systems theory and the concept of holism, spiritual benefits and challenges were also …