Spirituality and Stress in Mental Health Social Workers.
10.14475/kjhpc.2013.16.4.253
- Author:
Chang Gon KIM
1
Author Information
1. School of Social Welfare, Gwangju University, Gwangju, Korea. sokck@gwangju.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Spirituality;
Psychological stress;
Social worker
- MeSH:
Education;
Korea;
Marital Status;
Mental Health*;
Social Workers*;
Spirituality*;
Stress, Psychological
- From:Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2013;16(4):253-263
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze the association between spirituality and stress of mental health social workers, which could be used in development of a program to help them manage stress and offer spiritual support. METHODS: Participants were 154 mental health social workers in Korea. Data were collected from November 1 through November 30, 2011. The study employed the Korean version of the Spirituality Scale and Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form (PWI-SF). Data were analyzed using SPSS/Windows 17.0. RESULTS: The mean score for the Spirituality Scale was 3.63 and for PWI-SF 18.78. Spirituality scores showed a significant difference among participants by age, education, religion and marital status. Psychosocial stress scores also significantly differed by marital status. Spirituality scores were negatively correlated with psychosocial stress scores (r=-0.548, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, a significant negative association was found between spirituality and stress in mental health social workers in Korea. A follow-up study with a larger sample of participants is needed to confirm these findings.
