{"title":"Working precariously within the social welfare system in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic: Resilience without resistance among non-regular frontline workers","authors":"Viveka Ichikawa, Izumi Niki, Izumi Sakamoto","doi":"10.1080/02185385.2022.2134194","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2022.2134194","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The global COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural inequality perpetuated by neoliberalism. essential workers, including helping professionals, have experienced a high-stress level. This pilot study examined the challenges faced by social welfare workers in Japan during the pandemic. Japanese social welfare departments in municipal governments, which are primary providers of public assistance and social services, are staffed by government officers (GOs, permanent government employees) and non-regular frontline workers (NRs, hired on annual contracts, predominantly female, covering direct casework). Informed by narrative inquiries, five individual interviews of GOs and NRs were conducted. The thematic analysis highlighted the increased employment instability, individualisation, and powerlessness among NRs. NRs expressed intensified stress from the safety risk, long working hours, and insufficient organisational support. Stratified by different types of contracts, resultant tasks, and genders, NRs experienced intensified isolation, leading to burnout. The implications of working precariously in the pandemic under the neoliberal social welfare systems are discussed.","PeriodicalId":44820,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development","volume":"13 1","pages":"184 - 199"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77708815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Experiences of childhood trauma and cyberbullying perpetration among adolescents in China","authors":"Qiqi Chen, Yuhong Zhu","doi":"10.1080/02185385.2022.2077816","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2022.2077816","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT While there is substantial empirical evidence on the adverse effects of childhood trauma experiences, less is known about whether and how those experiences are related to cyberbullying perpetration in adolescents. This study examined the potential effects of childhood trauma experiences on cyberbullying perpetration with consideration of the role of emotion dysregulation. Participants (N = 1305) were recruited from elementary and middle schools (ages 9–16) in Yiyang County, Jiangxi Province, China during 2019. Multi-phase logistic regression analysis was used to explore childhood trauma and emotion dysregulation as predictors of cyberbullying experiences. The results showed that both childhood trauma experiences and emotion dysregulation were positively related to cyberbullying perpetration, with the relationship between sexual abuse and cyber-perpetration showing the highest coefficient among forms of childhood trauma. These findings may provide valuable information for use in cyberbullying prevention/intervention research and practice by clarifying avenues for alleviating childhood trauma experiences among minors.","PeriodicalId":44820,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development","volume":"2 1","pages":"50 - 63"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78765949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The longitudinal reciprocal relationship between food insecurity and depressive symptoms among Korean elderly who live in poverty: application of auto-regressive cross-lagged model","authors":"Jayoung Cho","doi":"10.1080/02185385.2022.2048414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2022.2048414","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Previous studies have reported that food insecurity influences depression, with the reverse reported as well. The study explores the reciprocal causal relationship between food insecurity and depressive symptoms among impoverished Korean elderly. The data were derived from the 8th wave to the 10th wave of the Korea Welfare Panel Study. A total of 3,476 subjects aged 60 years or older were analysed. An auto-regressive cross-lagged model with three-year longitudinal data was conducted for the analysis. For all waves, the reciprocal causal relationships between food insecurity and depressive symptoms were examined. The findings have implications for gerontological policy and practice, especially for the Korean impoverished elderly.","PeriodicalId":44820,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development","volume":"11 1","pages":"86 - 100"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88593200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Factors related to children’s screen use: the influence of parent–child interaction and parents’ working time schedules in Greater Taipei","authors":"Pei-Yuen Tsai","doi":"10.1080/02185385.2022.2059777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2022.2059777","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This paper adopts the ‘Child Well-Being Study in Greater Taipei’ to examine factors associated with children’s screen use. This Study was conducted in 2017 and 2018 with 6,480 caregivers of primary school aged children. The hierarchical regression analysis shows that parent–child interaction and parents’ working time schedules are associated with children’s screen use. Based on the findings, this paper suggests that governments and social workers could provide courses and activities to promote parent–child interaction, encourage the implementation of flexible working time arrangements and offer childcare support for parents working atypical hours to reduce children’s excessive screen use.","PeriodicalId":44820,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development","volume":"20 1","pages":"32 - 49"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90078848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Punishment for child abuse in South Korea: Cases of child-abuse deaths before and after new law","authors":"Y. Park, Jungtae Choi, Kihyun Kim","doi":"10.1080/02185385.2022.2059550","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2022.2059550","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify the trend of judicial decisions on child abuse deaths in South Korea and provide practical implications to improve the current child welfare legislation (the Child Abuse Act or the CAA). The present study investigated factors related to sentencing decisions for child abuse deaths between 2000 and 2013 (45 cases before the CAA) and between 2014 and 2017 (20 cases after the CAA). This study used Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to examine whether there were differences in judicial decisions before and after the CAA. The results showed that the sentencing standard has become stricter following the enactment of the CAA; however, sentences have still been primarily guided by judicial discretion. The current study suggests that it is important to amend the current CAA to clarify sentencing standards for child abuse. This amendment can ensure that punishment is primarily determined by specific provisions of the law.","PeriodicalId":44820,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development","volume":"28 1","pages":"19 - 31"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91029745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Towards an integrated analytical framework on old age powerlessness: contribution to social work practice","authors":"P. Kam","doi":"10.1080/02185385.2021.2019101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2021.2019101","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This article provides a theoretical review of the conceptualisation of power and powerlessness related to older people and proposes an integrated analytical framework for examining old age powerlessness. This framework conceptualises old age powerlessness regarding subjective sense and objective situations. The article argues that three powerlessness traps, the structural, cultural, and professional practice traps, interact to construct old age powerlessness. It also discusses the contribution of the framework to social work practice.","PeriodicalId":44820,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development","volume":"19 1","pages":"147 - 160"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85286979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Strategizing the performance of Non- Government Organisations: Exploring Organisational Practices and Managerial Leadership Behaviour in Indian NGOs","authors":"K. Thampi","doi":"10.1080/02185385.2022.2035250","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2022.2035250","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Organisational practices like mandatory practices, management practices, involvement in policy-advocacy-lobbying-networking practices and governance practices are considered healthy practices that contribute to organisational performance. This paper identifies some of the standard organisational practices of NGOs (N = 33) in Kerala State, India. From the study, it was evident that the NGOs were more into mandatory practices. The relation orientation of the Managerial leadership Behaviour showed a higher mean value of 2.8567 ± 0.49331SD than the task orientation. The study unravels the need for an updated policy in the voluntary sector and affirming the role of social work professionals in the organisation.","PeriodicalId":44820,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development","volume":"11 1","pages":"144 - 158"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89741497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Validation of a quantitative measure for meaning in parenthood among Chinese mothers in Hong Kong","authors":"Lei Yang, S. To","doi":"10.1080/02185385.2022.2043771","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2022.2043771","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to validate the Meaning in Parenthood Questionnaire (MPQ) among Chinese mothers in Hong Kong. Based on the data collected from 854 Chinese mothers, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to examine the factor structure of the scale. The internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the scale were also examined. EFA yielded a twofold factor structure (i.e. presence of meaning and search for meaning in parenthood) with ten items, which was supported by the CFA and explained 62.1% of the total variance. The Cronbach’s alpha indicates a satisfactory reliability of MPQ-Presence and MPQ-Search subscales (i.e. .788 and .883, respectively). The construct validity of both MPQ-Presence and MPQ-Search subscales were established by their significant correlations with parental efficacy and life satisfaction. The MPQ as a reliable and valid scale can enable researchers and practitioners to measure meaning in parenthood.","PeriodicalId":44820,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development","volume":"8 1","pages":"4 - 18"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82195843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Structural empowerment among social workers in Hong Kong: its relationship with job satisfaction and psychological well-being","authors":"H. Ng, K. Boey, H. To","doi":"10.1080/02185385.2021.2017338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2021.2017338","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Kanter’s model of structural empowerment developed in Western individualist culture has similar functionality in Hong Kong where collectivism is valued. Structural empowerment exerted a direct effect on job satisfaction and an indirect effect on psychological well-being via global psychological empowerment and job satisfaction. Opportunities for training and self-growth were most accessible to social workers, but least related to job satisfaction and had no bearing on psychological well-being. To empower social workers to provide a quality service, access to information, resources, and support in the workplace is more essential than access to training and self-development.","PeriodicalId":44820,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development","volume":"69 1","pages":"131 - 146"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83886111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Factors associated with substantiated child maltreatment cases in South Korea","authors":"Jiyoung Kang","doi":"10.1080/02185385.2021.1987313","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2021.1987313","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study examines the factors associated with the substantiation of child maltreatment in Korean child protective services (CPS), including organisational, external, and individual case factors based on social ecology. Multilevel logistic regression was utilised with data from 14,014 alleged child maltreatment cases and 36 CPS agencies and their jurisdictions. The results revealed that maltreatment substantiation is associated with the characteristics of alleged child maltreatment cases and the backgrounds of organisations and communities. Specifically, using time-limits to determine decision-making at CPS agencies was associated with a higher likelihood of substantiation, whereas more workload of investigation workers and residents’ mobility in communities were associated with a lower likelihood of substantiation. Additionally, a child’s mental health concerns, the caregiver’s risk factors, caregiver being parent, the family structure, and police officer accompanied for investigation were associated with substantiation. Based on the findings, improving substantiation decisions in the Korean CPS were discussed.","PeriodicalId":44820,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development","volume":"62 1","pages":"50 - 62"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72770917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}