{"title":"Book Reviews: The Routledge Handbook of International Development, Mental Health, and Wellbeing by Davidson, L. DavidsonL. (Ed.). The Routledge Handbook of International Development, Mental Health, and Wellbeing. London: Routledge, 2019. 433 pp. £36.79(paperback). ISBN 9780367783853","authors":"Siti Makhmudah","doi":"10.1177/10497315251336717","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251336717","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47993,"journal":{"name":"Research on Social Work Practice","volume":"277 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143901552","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}
Ming Yu Claudia Wong, Stanley Kam Ki Lam, Janet Yuen-Ha Wong, Hong Wang Fung
{"title":"Development of a Shorten Version of the 22-Item Level of Self-Criticism Scale: Using Item Response Theory and Factor Analysis","authors":"Ming Yu Claudia Wong, Stanley Kam Ki Lam, Janet Yuen-Ha Wong, Hong Wang Fung","doi":"10.1177/10497315251335256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251335256","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose Excessive self-criticism, along with negative self-evaluation and perceived unfavorable judgments from others, often leads to emotional distress. The Levels of Self-Criticism (LOSC) scale identifies two distinct forms of self-criticism: comparative self-criticism and internalized self-criticism, yet with varying psychometric stability across different populations. Method This study developed a shortened, psychometrically robust version of the LOSC by employing item response theory (IRT) and factor analysis to enhance the practicality and reliability of the scale. Results 415 participants completed the baseline survey, and 232 completed the post-test, engaging 83% of females with Mage = 39.73. IRT analysis eliminated 11 items, with the remaining items demonstrating optimal item performance and significant concurrent validity with related measures. This shortened LOSC showed strong test–retest reliability and construct validity. Discussion This streamlined scale provides a precise tool for assessing self-criticism, contributing to better psychological practice and research.","PeriodicalId":47993,"journal":{"name":"Research on Social Work Practice","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143901553","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":"Assessing the Effectiveness of TSL Program for Runaway and Homeless Youth","authors":"Joonbeom Kim, Jae Yop Kim, Jeensuk Lee","doi":"10.1177/10497315251335239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251335239","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Thank You, Sorry, Love (TSL) program in improving family functioning and mental health among runaway and homeless youths (RHYs). Methods A quasi-experimental design was used with 24 RHYs (12 in the TSL group and 12 in the Treatment as Usual [TAU]). Both groups received 3 months of follow-up case management; the TSL group participated in a 10-week TSL intervention, while the TAU received a standard family recovery program. Assessments of family functioning and mental health were conducted at pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Results Compared to the TAU, the TSL group showed significantly greater improvements in both family functioning and mental health across time points. Discussion The TSL program is a promising intervention to improve family dynamics and mental health in RHYs. Fostering gratitude, forgiveness, and positive communication offers a practical framework for supporting long-term recovery.","PeriodicalId":47993,"journal":{"name":"Research on Social Work Practice","volume":"78 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143867016","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":"Measurement Invariance of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale : Race and Gender Differences","authors":"Jangmin Kim, Qi Zhou, Keith A. Alford","doi":"10.1177/10497315251335348","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251335348","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose: This study examined the measurement invariance of the <jats:italic>Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale</jats:italic> (STSS) across racial and gender groups among public child welfare workers. Method: Survey data from 2,004 participants were analyzed using a series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to examine the measurement invariance of a 17-item scale assessing intrusion, avoidance, and arousal symptoms of secondary traumatic stress (STS). Results: The study identified a single-factor model that combined all STS symptoms. A measurement invariance test revealed that the STS scale did not achieve acceptable measurement invariance between White and Black workers. For gender, partial scalar invariance was supported although the latent mean of STS did not differ significantly between male and female workers. Conclusions: Findings underscore the importance of further research to improve the STS scale to better capture racial disparities in STS and reflect culturally specific symptoms of STS, especially among Black social workers.","PeriodicalId":47993,"journal":{"name":"Research on Social Work Practice","volume":"67 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143862883","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":"Book Review: Care in Social Work With Children and Families; Theory, Everyday Practices and Possibilities for Social Change by Maria Appel Nissen, Mie Engen and Andreas Møller Jørgensen Care in Social Work With Children and Families; Theory, Everyday Practices and Possibilities for Social Change, by NissenMaria AppelEngenMieJørgensenAndreas Møller (eds). London & New York. Routledge, 2023 (144pp., £130.00 (Hardback), ISBN 978-1-032-30871-5)","authors":"Ulfiyani Ulfiyani","doi":"10.1177/10497315251335251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251335251","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47993,"journal":{"name":"Research on Social Work Practice","volume":"47 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143862885","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":"Research Synthesis Methods: A Guide for Conducting Rigorous and Relevant Reviews","authors":"Brandy R. Maynard","doi":"10.1177/10497315251334150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251334150","url":null,"abstract":"Research synthesis plays a vital role in advancing knowledge, informing policy and practice, and shaping future research in social work. However, the proliferation of poorly designed and methodologically weak reviews threatens to dilute the evidence base, undermine decision-making, and slow progress. This paper calls for stronger adherence to high standards in research synthesis, emphasizing the need for thoughtful, well-executed reviews that add value and address important questions. It examines four key synthesis methods—systematic reviews, overviews of reviews, scoping reviews, and evidence and gap maps—clarifying their appropriate applications and highlighting methodological standards. In addition to providing guidance to help authors conduct higher quality reviews, it calls on journal editors and peer reviewers to uphold higher publication standards. Research synthesis can serve as a reliable foundation for evidence-informed practice and decision-making, but only if the syntheses are of high quality and address important questions.","PeriodicalId":47993,"journal":{"name":"Research on Social Work Practice","volume":"62 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143836656","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":"Effect of Race/Ethnicity on the 2018–2022 Social Work Clinical License Exam Outcomes","authors":"Joy J. Kim, Michael M. Joo","doi":"10.1177/10497315251333373","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251333373","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose: We examined the effect of race and ethnicity on first-time passage of the ASWB Clinical exam using a person-in-environment conceptual framework. Method: We conducted descriptive and regression analyses using the 2018–2022 Clinical exam data ( <jats:italic>N</jats:italic> = 88,678), merged with zip code-level income data from the US Census Bureau and institutional characteristics data from the US Department of Education. Results: Results indicated that if examinees from minoritized groups had individual, institutional, and community characteristics similar to those of White examinees, the Black-White disparity in exam pass rates could decline by approximately 20%, and the Hispanic-White disparity by around 27%. With 58% of Black examinees interacting with lowest-income areas, their outcomes were influenced more by socioeconomic status. However, Hispanic examinees’ outcomes were affected more by their educational backgrounds. Conclusion: Findings call for further research that explores the crucial determinants of exam outcomes not included in this study due to data constraints.","PeriodicalId":47993,"journal":{"name":"Research on Social Work Practice","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143827667","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}
Othelia EunKyoung Lee, Sojeong Baek, Junsik Lee, Do-Hyung Park
{"title":"Impact of Socially Assistive Robots on Geriatric Depression: A Comparative Study of Pre- and During-Pandemic Cohorts","authors":"Othelia EunKyoung Lee, Sojeong Baek, Junsik Lee, Do-Hyung Park","doi":"10.1177/10497315251331847","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251331847","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose: Socially assistive robots (SARs) have been associated with positive emotional support outcomes. This study further examines the types of support sought by older adults from SARs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A total of 188 participants were recruited, with 101 individuals in the Pre-Pandemic cohort and 87 in the During-Pandemic cohort. Usage data from SARs was collected over 240 days through web-monitoring systems, and face-to-face interviews were conducted. Results: Before the pandemic, content delivery by SARs was the predominant form of engagement. During the pandemic, older adults increasingly sought interactive emotional support from SARs. While both cohorts demonstrated a significant reduction in depressive symptoms, Pre-Pandemic represented larger reduction with a mean decrease of 7.14 points. Discussion: The findings highlight the potential of well-designed SARs to provide emotional support and mitigate depressive symptoms. Further research is recommended to optimize SAR functionalities for diverse emotional and social needs.","PeriodicalId":47993,"journal":{"name":"Research on Social Work Practice","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143822659","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":"Book Review: Social Work for Women Poverty-Alleviation by Cuie Zhang and Yunsu Du ZhangCuieDuYunsu. Social Work for Women Poverty-Alleviation","authors":"Fajar Kurniasih, Suci Rokhimah","doi":"10.1177/10497315251330818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251330818","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47993,"journal":{"name":"Research on Social Work Practice","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143822657","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}
Indriani H Ismail, Imam Ismail, Muhammad Nursa’ban
{"title":"Book Review: The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Field Education in the Global South by Baikady R., S.M., S., Nadesan, V., & Islam, M.R. BaikadyR.S.M.S.NadesanV.IslamM.R. (Eds.). (2022). The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Field Education in the Global South (1st ed.). Routledge. 2022. 454 pp. £37.39 (paperback). ISBN9781032192611.","authors":"Indriani H Ismail, Imam Ismail, Muhammad Nursa’ban","doi":"10.1177/10497315251332864","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251332864","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47993,"journal":{"name":"Research on Social Work Practice","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143822663","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}