Social capital is positively associated with adult health and well-being. We know little, however, about the impact of social capital for women, especially those from developing nations. Knowledge of this relationship is important not only for women but also for social workers engaged with this population. This study examines the impact of social capital on the health and well-being of 6,099 women in Indonesia. Results indicate that education and trust positively correlate with health and well-being. The findings are relevant for social workers at a direct practice and programmatic level to offer services designed for improved health and well-being.
Under the Trump administration, many immigrants struggled with exclusionary policies that created a climate of fear and uncertainty. Our aim was to investigate which immigrants may be more vulnerable for experiencing policy stress and discrimination during this time period. Employing a cross-sectional design, we recruited U.S. immigrants ( N = 490) to complete an online survey assessing experiences of policy-related stress and discrimination. Multiple regression results showed significant models for both outcome variables, with several vulnerabilities emerging. For policy stress, immigrants who were younger, non-white, and who lived in a household with a lower annual income were more vulnerable. Participants who were second-generation immigrants, younger, male, and non-white reported higher perceived discrimination. Findings suggest that the stress associated with policies and experiences of discrimination varied within the immigrant community, and implications for practice and policy work are discussed.
Stress and distress among immigrant communities in the United States have escalated under the recent sociopolitical climate (e.g., exclusionary federal policies, COVID-19), underscoring the urgent need for additional data to better understand immigrant experiences. Yet, the very stressors that generate this need for data also create fear and trust-related barriers that might impede research success. Barriers, including a lack of trust, power differentials, language differences, and varying cultural norms, negatively impact the collection of valid data. Recommendations to address these barriers are provided, and integration of such strategies is an essential step toward growing the knowledge base of the profession, delivery of evidence-based interventions with immigrant clients, and better-informed discussions of culturally responsive approaches in social work education and practice.
Afghan refugees experienced a surge of crisis in August 2021 after the U.S. troops withdrew operations in Afghanistan, leaving them exposed to the harms of the Taliban regime. Sudden evacuation led to family separation and uncertainty. Furthermore, the trauma of leaving loved ones behind and resettling into a new country of which this group had limited familiarity could have challenges in terms of integration. Through our brief practice note, we discuss the challenges faced by Afghan refugees resettling in the United States during these difficult times, along with implications for practitioners and service providers. We highlight strategies to ensure culturally responsive service provision for these refugees.
AbstractSocial workers play a distinctive role in serving all communities, especially immigrants. Heightened immigrant stress and deteriorating well‐being have been reported amid recent anti‐immigrant socio‐political climate. Given the unique challenges of immigrants, they have distinct needs. In our study, we utilize data from a larger study including a sample of first‐ and second‐generation immigrants, to understand "How can social workers support immigrant communities?" In total, N = 265 participants responded to this prompt. We employed a content analysis approach to analyze participant responses. Our analysis yielded four main themes: (1) Resources for immigrants, (2) Doing right by immigrants, (3) Advocacy, and (4) Understanding immigrants. Our findings are timely in highlighting the diverse perspectives about immigrant needs in the current socio‐political climate. Study findings have implications for social workers as well as service providers/agencies that engage with immigrants.