Structural Barriers and Narratives of Chinese Social Workers’ Coping Strategies

ABSTRACT Chinese social workers struggle to remain in this emerging profession; structural barriers are a challenging issue. This qualitative research explored the structural barriers Chinese social workers encounter and the coping strategies they utilize through interviews and focus group discussions with 49 experienced social workers. Two themes concerning structural barriers emerged: (a) constraining structural contexts; and (b) immature professionalization. Three categories of coping strategies were identified: (a) building a partnership and integrating resources; (b) utilizing a professional and personal social support network; and (c) improving organizational governance and strategic management. The barriers and coping strategies differentially impacted various career stages.