Social Work Commons^™

Integrity Housing: Providing Residence And Social Capital For Persons With Sex Offense Records, T.B. Huber

MSW Capstones

This paper proposes grant funding for Integrity Housing (IH), a community-based housing program that will provide residence and social support to individuals formerly incarcerated for sex offenses. Persons with sex offense records need housing and social supports in order to reduce homelessness and prevent recidivism. We will align with law enforcement and community values to provide a home and place of healing to perpetrators of sexual violence. Our mission is to support persons formerly incarcerated for sex offenses in successful community integration. We aim to improve the lives and well-being of these individuals by providing housing, therapeutic services, and social …

Lessons Learned In Co-Creating A Virtual Village For People Ageing With Hiv, Jasmine L. Lopez, Andrea N. Polonijo, Annie L. Nguyen, Karah Y. Greene, Jerome T. Galea, Moka Yoo-Jeong, Jeff Taylor, Brandon J. Brown

Social Work Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Coping With Death, Quality Of Life, And Compassion Fatigue Among Hospice Social Workers, Virgen L. Dominguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research indicates that working with dying patients and their families could causeemotional reactions that not only affect their well-being but their quality of life and desire to continue in their profession. Although researchers have examined compassion fatigue among other professionals, there is a gap in research on the phenomenon among hospice social workers. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to obtain a richer understanding about how hospice social workers cope with death, what their experiences are with compassion fatigue, and how their quality of life is impacted by their work. The conceptual framework was the transactional theory of …

Family Support In Relations To The Well-Being Of Dialysis Patients, Fabiola Rodriguez, Yesenia Ornelas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

When recently diagnosed with a chronic illness, individuals face various challenging events that require social support. Nephrology social workers are expected to increase the psychosocial functioning and adjustment of individuals diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Limited studies are available regarding patients with ESRD, social support, and quality of life. This research was intended to explain the effect of familial support on the quality of life of patients diagnosed with ESRD. The research was measured by utilizing a mixed method design with convenience sampling of nephrology social workers employed at inpatient dialysis centers. Participants engaged in the study by …

Health-Related Quality Of Life And Health Literacy Among Mexican American And Black American Youth In A Southern Border State, Steven Hoffman, Heidi Adams Rueda, Lauren Beasley

Social Work Faculty Publications

Among adults, health literacy and health-related quality of life are highly correlated constructs that are associated with tangible health outcomes. While the connection between these concepts and health outcomes among youth is still unclear, studying these factors among at-risk adolescent populations can provide researchers, policy-creators, and educators a quantifiable summary of the challenge they face in their efforts to reduce health disparities. The purpose of this study was to better understand the health of minority youth living in a Southern state near the US-Mexico border. Specifically, we sought to describe their health literacy and health-related quality of life, and identify …

From Isolation To Communication: Connecting Adults Who Have Hearing Loss With Their Communication Partners, Stephen D. Roberts, Nancy A. Delich

JADARA

As Baby Boomers enter the late adulthood stage of life, hearing loss continues to be one of the most prevalent, chronic, and isolating conditions facing older adults today. Research has focused on the negative consequences of hearing loss on the health and the person’s well-being, but it is equally important to recognize that hearing loss also leads to communication loss. The resulting social isolation and the collateral effects of hearing loss on the communication partner are the focus of this mixed-method study that explored the hearing loss-related quality of life for both parties. Five overarching themes emerged from the analysis, …

An Assessment Of Mental Wellbeing And Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Youth Living In Central Mexico, Steven Hoffman, Heidi Adams Rueda, Stefan Chase

Social Work Faculty Publications

The current state of adolescent mental health and wellbeing in Mexico constitutes a serious public health concern. In an effort to better understand the potential impact this crisis is having on youth in Central Mexico, we designed a study to assess the connection between Mental Wellbeing and Health-related Quality of Life among a sample of children in junior high school. Descriptive statistics suggest that 22.5% of our sample was “at-risk” of poor health-related quality of life, with 19.8% at risk within the physical subscale and 24.3% at risk within the psychosocial subscale. Regression analyses showed that mental wellbeing scores significantly …

Holistic Approach To Addressing Community Needs In Rural Communities, Ebony L. Hall Lang, Stephanie J. Hamm, Nathalie P. Jones

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

The purpose of this study was to assess health of a rural Texas community in efforts to better understand and develop a plan of action for developing community intervention for increasing availability of human resources. Researchers asked various questions to understand the availability and accessibility of resources within a rural community using a community needs assessment approach. Participants were recruited by the researchers directly within the community using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The sample size included 361 participants in a rural community. The overall quality of life for the rural participants was slightly lower than what researchers considered to …

Collaboration With Parent-Run Organization, A Support Agency And Adults With Developmental Disabilities To Improve The Quality Of Life, Alan Kurtz, Janet May

Poster Presentations

CCIDS staff worked with a parent organization to develop a plan for evaluation of a residential alternative for their adult children that included pre-post quantitative and qualitative measures of resident quality of life and a review of planning documents. A quality of life survey was administered separately to residents and parents shortly before their move into the new residence and about one year after their move. CCIDS also provided training for agency staff, parents, and residents on authentic person-centered planning and facilitating community connections.

An Interprofessional Collaborative Approach To The Development Of A Content Valid Interview Questionnaire For Persons With Hearing Loss And Their Communication Partners, Nancy A. Delich, Stephen D. Roberts

JADARA

An assessment instrument needs to be valid in order for data to be accurately interpreted and applied. Currently, few rigorous content evaluations have been conducted on hearing-related questionnaires. This study describes a multiphase approach for obtaining content validity evidence in the development of a questionnaire that explores quality of life for persons with hearing loss and their communication partners. A panel of 15 interprofessional experts evaluated 41 questionnaire items for content relevance and content clarity. Findings revealed an overall scale of .99 for content relevance and .85 for content clarity, indicating high content validity for the revised 40-item questionnaire.

Yoga-Specific Enhancement Of Quality Of Life Among Women With Breast Cancer: Systematic Review And Exploratory Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Daline El-Hashimi, Kevin M. Gorey

Social Work Publications

Physical activities during and after cancer treatment have favorable psychosocial effects. Increasingly, yoga has become a popular approach to improving the quality of life (QoL) of women with breast cancer. However, the extant synthetic evidence on yoga has not used other exercise comparison conditions. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically assess yoga-specific effects relative to any other physical exercise intervention (eg, aerobics) for women with breast cancer. QoL was the primary outcome of interest. Eight randomized controlled trials with 545 participants were included. The sample-weighted synthesis at immediate postintervention revealed marginally statistically and modest practically significant differences suggesting yoga’s potentially greater …

Mapping Collective Action Structures And Activities In A Rural Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, Althea R. Pestine-Stevens

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Age-Friendly Communities (AFC) initiatives convene stakeholders across sectors and service areas throughout a community to work together to improve the social and built environments for older persons living in the community. While the AFC movement has been active internationally for thirteen years, little is known about the mechanisms that drive this work and its successes. This study aims to uncover some of the key collective action processes and structures that comprise AFC work in a rural county in New York State, through a collaboration theory framework and a social network analysis design.

Dreamweaver Foundation Impact Study: Fulfilling Lifelong Dreams For Terminally Ill Seniors In Need, Pamela Ashley, Natalie Scarpa

Reports

Dreamweaver Foundation describes their work as “...fulfill(ing) lifelong dreams for terminally ill seniors in need.” This impact study was designed to provide evidence of how the Foundation is making a difference in the lives of the dreamers and their families. This study applied a systematic and objective approach to understanding the impact of the Dreamweaver Foundation by conducting and analyzing interviews with a representative group of dreamers and their families. The richness of their experiences was captured through these interviews and analyzed to identify themes of impact. In order to provide a solid foundation for the interview process, the study …

Project Rafiki: Consumer And Provider Perspectives On Food Assistance And Its Impact On Quality Of Life For Individuals Living With Hiv/Aids, Emily C. Holderfield-Gaither, Saundra Starks, William Mkanta

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Project Rafiki was designed to provide nonperishable food assistance to individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, East Africa. The research study was developed to examine the extent to which the Project Rafiki food assistance program had impacted its participants over the course of one year. The aim of this research can be divided into five smaller objectives: 1) to gage the effectiveness of the food assistance program; 2) to assist in the expansion of inter-professional knowledge of resource-development regarding health and nutrition for vulnerable communities or rural areas; 3) to involve and immerse students in learning on a global level; …

A Later Life Without Children In China : A Cross-Sectional Examination Of Moderators And Mediators Of The Effects Of Childlessness On The Well-Being Of Elders, Junrong Shi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Adult children played a primary role in support and caregiving for the fast-growing older population in China because of the core value of “filial piety” and underdeveloped formal services in the country. However, an increasing amount of Chinese people will end up with having no children in their later years, either nonparental or no children survived. It is important to understand that how the absence of children affects the health and well-being of older adults to better serve this growing vulnerable population. Limited previous studies focused on the childless older people in China, and little is known about the mechanisms …

Welfare Reform And Quality Of Life: A Systematic Review, Brianna Heilman

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Work And Quality Of Life For Individuals With Smi: A Systematic Review, Scott Grandt

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This systematic review looks at the quality of life outcomes employment gives individuals with severe mental illnesses. Fourteen studies conducted between 1991 and 2016 were included for the final review. Studies that examined health and functioning generally found connections between work and improvements in both functioning and symptoms. Studies that investigated interpersonal aspects of quality of life found connections between work and the size of social networks, but also noted the dual nature work played regarding interpersonal relationships. Half of the studies discussed outcomes related to self-views, with some making the connection between work and identity formation and others noting …

Financial Empowerment And Health Related Quality Of Life In Family Scholar House Participants, Chelsey Franz

Journal of Financial Therapy

Research demonstrates an association between poverty and health. Populations in poverty suffer from poor mental and physical health, and thus, poor health-related quality of life. Research also indicates people living in the lower socio-economic categories experience higher levels of stress that are associated with these health declines. Family Scholar House, a local community intervention designed to alleviate poverty and improve socio-economic status by providing college education and support to single parents, combats these health outcomes by addressing the five social determinants of health (economic stability, education, social and community context, health care, and neighborhood and built environment). Quantitative analysis indicates …

Quality Of Life For Patients With Dementia: A Systematic Review, Kate Ryg

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

There is an increase in the amount of people becoming diagnosed with dementia. With that increase, a concern has been created in regards to maintaining a person’s quality of life and intervention strategies to properly maintain their quality of life. The systematic review was set up using peer-reviewed articles published after 2001. The database SocINDEX was used to conduct the search for articles using the terms; “dementia and intervention strategies,” “dementia and non-pharmacological interventions,” “caregiver support,” “dementia and medications,” and “dementia and behavioral interventions.” Out of these searches, 32 articles satisfied criteria for inclusion and were used in the final …

An Examination Of Quality Of Life Of Parents Of Adult Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Christina Noel Marsack

Wayne State University Dissertations

Previous research on parental caregivers has focused primarily on caregivers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, rather than focusing specifically on parents of adult children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Most research on ASD has centered on parents of young children with this diagnosis, but not on parents of adult children with ASD. Understanding the experiences of parents caring for adult children with ASD is important given the increase in the prevalence of individuals with ASD and the lack of information regarding parents of adult children with ASD. A nonexperimental, quantitative, correlational design was used to examine effects …

Quality Of Life And Mental Health Outcomes In Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator Treatment: Potential Effects Of Informational Media History And Treatment Knowledge, Christopher E. Knoepke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social workers in all care venues are increasingly responsible for clinical and case management services for people being treated with sophisticated medical interventions. Unfortunately, opportunities to aid in the promotion of quality of life (QOL), mental health, and informed consent are often not understood by social workers, other care providers, or patients. These missed opportunities may lead to attenuated effectiveness of medical interventions and negative impact on patients' QOL. One such technological treatment is the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a lifesaving therapy which carries risk to patients' QOL. Moreover, patients frequently do not accurately understand the benefits, limitations, and possible …

Impact Of Dual Disorders, Trauma, And Social Support On Quality Of Life Among Women In Treatment For Substance Dependence, Suzanne Brown, Min Kyoung Jun, Meeyoung Oh Min, Elizabeth M. Tracy

Social Work Faculty Publications

Objective Women with dual disorders report lower levels of social support than women with substance dependence alone, and lower levels of social support have been associated with lower quality of life among individuals with substance use disorders. However, little is known about the impact of trauma symptoms and violence exposure on quality of life for women with dual disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of dual disorders, trauma, and social support related to recovery on various domains of quality of life among women in substance abuse treatment.

Methods This study utilized multiple standardized measures and …

Prospective Patterns And Correlates Of Quality Of Life Among Women In Substance Abuse Treatment, Elizabeth M. Tracy, Alexandre Laudet, Meeyoung Oh Min, Hyunsoo Kim, Suzanne Brown, Min Kyoung Jun, Lynn Singer

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background Quality of life (QOL) is increasingly recognized as central to the broad construct of recovery in sub- stance abuse services. QOL measures can supplement more objective symptom measures, identify specific service needs and document changes in functioning that are associated with substance use patterns. To date however, QOL remains an under investigated area in the addictions field, especially in the United States.

Methods This study examines patterns and predictors of QOL at 1 and 6 months post treatment intake among 240 women enrolled in substance abuse treatment in Cleveland, Ohio. The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) measure …

Study To Identify Indicators Of Suicidal Ideation And Its Relation To Self-Perceived Quality Of Life Among Select Populations Of The Physically Disabled, Nicholas Joseph Ballew

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to explore cognitive variables in select populations of the physically disabled to detect suicidal ideation. In contrast to the majority of studies focusing mainly on physical or vegetative symptomology, this study focused purely on the cognitive, emotional, psychosocial aspects of schema leading up to suicidal ideation. The purpose of this project will be an attempt to implement the use of a cognitive tool aimed at physically disabled populations and place this tool in the hands of professionals, physicians and loved ones to the affect of identifying and reducing suicidal ideation within this population. The …

Development And Preliminary Psychometric Testing Of The Centrality Of Pain Scale, Christina Nicolaidis, Teresa Chianello, Martha Gerrity

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective: To develop and begin to evaluate a new measure of the centrality of pain in patients' lives.

Design: Cross-sectional survey and cognitive interviews.

Setting: Academic general internal medicine clinic.

Patients: 65 adult internal medicine patients with chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP).

Outcome measures: We assessed content validity and clarity of the 10-item Centrality of Pain Scale (COPS) by soliciting feedback from chronic pain experts and by conducting cognitive interviews with patients with CNMP. We assessed internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's alpha. We assessed construct validity by comparing the COPS with other measures of chronic pain …

Quality Of Service And Treatment Adherence In Individuals With End Stage Renal Disease, Kyle Joseph Fraga

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study will focus on the patient's attitudes about their treatment. There is a certain stigma attached to dialysis that makes it an undesirable form of treatment. Individuals on dialysis may feel dependent and vulnerable. In addition, hospitals and dialysis clinics can be an unwelcoming and intimidating place. A person's belief about their treatment will influence how well they adhere to it.

Life Transitions, Social Support And Psychological Well-Being Among The Elderly In Taiwan : A Longitudinal Study, Shiau-Fang Chao

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study examines the relationships between life transitions, social support and psychological well-being. A decline in health and financial strain were selected as two types of chronic stressors and loss of a spouse as an acute stressor. This study integrates previous literature and develops a unique predictive model involving seven components of social support -- social network size, social network composition, frequency of social contact, satisfaction with social support, types of support, helping others, and proximity of support. Depression and life satisfaction were the two measures of psychological well-being. 3,585 elders who were interviewed up to five times over a …

The Utility Of The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System In Testing Quality Of Life Theory : An Evaluation Using Structural Equation Modeling, Evelyn Marie Kintner

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study is a secondary data analysis that uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess the utility of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)--the Centers for Disease Control's premier surveillance tool for monitoring behavioral risk factors--in predicting health related quality of life (HRQoL). Employing the statistical package SPSS/AMOS (version 7), the study utilizes New York State data extracted from the 2007 BRFSS national dataset to assess how well the observed pattern of variances and covariances of the state level data fit with a well-known HRQoL model developed by Wilson and Cleary (1995). Interaction effects are examined, utilizing a multigroup …

Quality Of Life Perceptions And Treatment Choices In Hemodialysis And Peritoneal Dialysis, And The Implications For Social Work Practice, Heather Noel Toms

Theses Digitization Project

This study discussed the differences in perceived quality of life issues between hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis patients. This study conducted open dialogue with the patients on various treatment modalities, to discover how the patients Q.O.L. (Quality of Life) concerns affected their treatment decisions and to further investigate what social workers can do to assist the patient in increasing their quality of life, and if necessary, advocate for the patient in their treatment choice.

Rethinking Social Work's Role In Public Assistance, Julie Cooper Altman, Gertrude Schaffner Goldberg

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article presents an argument for revisiting social work's relationship to public assistance in the wake of 10 years of welfare reform. Three case studies drawn from a mixed-method study of the quality of life of former TANF recipients illustrate the range, depth and complexity of the needs of persons while they are on the welfare rolls, transitioning off and living without cash relief. The article briefly traces the history of social work's commitment to and provision of social services for this population and argues that it may be time to revisit the profession's role in public assistance. In light …