Social work with migrants: challenges of the professional well-being of social workers in the reception system

Flavia Cirimele; Carla Zappulla; Roberta T. Di Rosa

doi:10.30827/tsg-gsw.33420

Autores/as

Flavia Cirimele Università degli studi di Palermo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6752-8334
Carla Zappulla Università degli studi di Palermo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6507-8357
Roberta T. Di Rosa Università degli studi di Palermo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6062-8559

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30827/tsg-gsw.33420

Palabras clave:

Well-being, Social work, Migrants, Occupational diseases, Empathy, Intercultural dialogue

Agencias: This publication has been prepared within the framework of the European Project “Global-ANSWER: Global social work and human mobility: comparative studies on local government and good social work practices in the euro-mediterranean region (2020-2025)” and reflects only the authors’ opinion. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 872209.The Agency and the European Commission are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.

Resumen

Introduction. The increasing presence of cultural diversity has become a prevalent aspect of social work in many EU countries. Although public services represent a relevant source of support for the' inclusion process of immigrants, they also face several challenges in providing tailored and suitable health care to accommodate cultural variation and meet the diverse cross-cultural needs of immigrants. In this context, social work with immigrants is grounded in the principles of empathy and intercultural sensitivity. Social workers should value diversity and provide services that reflect an understanding of the diversity across cultures. However, given the heavy demands placed on them, coupled with increasingly diminishing resources, they often may experience psychological distress. Methods. Building on a multidisciplinary foundation, this study focuses on understanding the well-being condition of professionals operating in the migration sector by evidencing whether the levels of burnout (i.e., the experience of exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficiency experienced at work because of chronic emotional and interpersonal stressor on the job) are associated with individuals’ empathy and sensitivity to different cultures and background. In detail, participants were 38 social workers, aged between 30 and 60 years (M = 39.63, SD = 11.22), from Italy (N = 8), Spain (N = 23), and Sweden (N = 7). Participants responded using well-validated instruments across the three countries for assessing burnout, empathy, and intercultural sensitivity. Results. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among social workers in Italy, Spain, and Sweden in terms of mental distance at work, interaction attentiveness when communicating with people from different backgrounds, and empathy. Beyond these differences, the findings of the profile analysis show that social workers with higher intercultural sensitivity and average levels of empathy generally report lower burnout symptoms across contexts. Discussion and conclusions. These results suggest that cultural sensitivity may be a protective factor against work-related stress across contexts, emphasizing the importance of fostering intercultural sensitivity through targeted training and support to enhance social workers' well-being and improve service delivery to migrant populations. The present study extends knowledge on the multifaceted mosaic of the everyday relationship between social workers and migration, promoting a greater understanding of professional perspectives from a multicultural perspective and the exchange of good practices between different territories and services.

Descargas

Los datos de descargas todavía no están disponibles.

Biografía del autor/a

Flavia Cirimele, Università degli studi di Palermo

Assistant Professor in Developmental and Educational Psychology at the Department of Culture e Società (University of Palermo, Italy). She has a Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Neuroscience (Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome). She teaches Developmental Psychology and Behavior observation and evaluation methods at the bachelor’s degree in Social Work at the University of Palermo. Her research interests include individual differences in predicting individuals’ adjustment by integrating methods from developmental, personality, and quantitative psychology. She is part of the research team of the Global-ANSWER project (P.I. Palermo site: Prof. Roberta T. Di Rosa), in which her interest is focused on understanding the risk and protective factors associated with the well-being of professionals working with migrants.

Carla Zappulla, Università degli studi di Palermo

Full professor in Developmental and Educational Psychology at the Department of Culture e Società at the University of Palermo (Italy). She is Ph.D. in Psychology. She teaches “Developmental Psychology” and “Models and Techniques of Developmental and Behavioral Observation” in the Social Work degree course. Peer-reviewer for many national and international journals. The main research interests concern the study of risky behaviors in childhood (inhibition and social isolation) and adolescence (New Addictions), with particular attention to the intra-individual components (temperament, identity) and inter-individual components (attachment relationship, parenting, peer relationship, ethnic prejudice), and the competence and emotional regulation in preschool and school age. She is part of the research team of the Global-ANSWER project (P.I. Palermo site: Prof. Roberta Teresa Di Rosa).

Roberta T. Di Rosa, Università degli studi di Palermo

Full Professor of Sociology of Development and Migration and International Social Work. Board of Italian Sociological Association (AIS) and Italian Society of Social Work (SOCISS). Her most recent research interests include issues of identity and gender in migration; reception and integration practices for unaccompanied minors and second generations; paths of disciplinary innovation in social work: transculturality, international cooperation, emergency and digitalisation. Author of the entries "Social work and integration of migrants" and "Social work and development cooperation" in the Nuovo Dizionario di Servizio Sociale, Carocci. Recent publications include: (2021). Unaccompanied Minors in Greece and Italy: An Exploration of the Challenges for Social Work Within Tighter Immigration and Resource Constraints in Pandemic Times. Social Sciences; (2021). Newcomers as Agents for Social Change: Learning from the Italian Experience: A Recourse Book for Social Work and Social Work Education in the Field of Migration, FrancoAngeli; (2022) Diversification of diversity: Migrations, cultural pluralism and urban transformations in Palermo (Italy): a case study. Current Sociology; (2022). Confronting the Medusa with Athena’s Shield: Empowering Social Workers with a Transformative Role in theMigration Field. Italian Journal of Sociology of Education.

Citas

Adriaenssens, J., De Gucht, V., & Maes, S. (2015). Determinants and prevalence of burnout in emergency nurses: A systematic review of 25 years of research. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52(2), 649-661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.11.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.11.004

Ambrosini, M. (2021). Migrazioni e politiche migratorie: uno sguardo europeo. In G. Bulli, & A. Tonini (Eds.), Migrazioni in Italia: oltre la sfida (pp. 13-30). Florence University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/978-88-6453-965-2.02

Anttonen, A., & Karsio, O. (2016). Eldercare Service Redesign in Finland: Deinstitutionalization of Long-Term Care. Journal of Social Service Research, 42(2), 151-166. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2015.1129017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2015.1129017

Ariza Toledano, L.B., & Ruiz-Olivares, R. (2024). The link between burnout and social-occupational variables in Spanish social workers. International Social Work, 67(2), 375-396. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728231167037 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728231167037

Cabieses, B., Obach, A., & Urrutia, C. (2021). Interculturalidad en salud: teorías y experiencias para poblaciones migrantes internacionales. Universidad del Desarrollo. http://hdl.handle.net/11447/4357

Chen, G., & Starosta, W.J. (1997). A Review of the Concept of Intercultural Sensitivity. Human Communication, 1, 1-16.

Chen, G.M., & Starosta, W.J. (2000). The development and validation of the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale. Human Communication, 3(1), 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1037/t61546-000 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/t61546-000

Chopik, W.J., O’Brien, E., & Konrath, S.H. (2017). Differences in Empathic Concern and Perspective Taking Across 63 Countries. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 48(1), 23-38. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022116673910 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022116673910

Cohen-Emerique, M. (2017). Per un approccio interculturale nelle professioni sociali e educative: dagli inquadramenti teorici alle modalità operative. Edizioni Centro Studi Erickson.

Consiglio, C., Mazzetti, G., & Schaufeli, W.B. (2021). Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), 9469. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189469 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189469

Council of the European Union. (2016, December 24). Council Recommendation of 19 December 2016 on Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults (2016/C 484/01). Official Journal of the European Union, (C 484), 1-6. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=oj:JOC_2016_484_R_0001

Derksen, F., Bensing, J., & Lagro-Janssen, A. (2013). Effectiveness of empathy in general practice: a systematic review. British Journal of General Practice, 63(606), e76-e84. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp13X660814 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp13X660814

Di Rosa, R.T., Gijón, M.T., & Gucciardo, G. (Coords.). (2023). Guide on conceptual and methodological issues in social work research in the field of human mobility. Global-ANSWER Network “Social Work and Human Mobility”. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102643

Di Rosa, R.T., & Reich, H. (2022). Confronting the Medusa with Athena’s Shield: Empowering Social Workers with a Transformative Role in the Migration Field. Italian Journal of Sociology of Education, 14(1), 247-266. https://doi.org/10.14658/pupj-ijse-2022-1-14

Di Rosa, R.T., & Tumminelli, G. (2024). Empowering Migrant Inclusion: Professional Skills and Tools. Springer Nature. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55501-5

Dominelli, L. (2005). Il servizio sociale. Una professione che cambia. Edizioni Erickson.

Dong, Q., Day, K.D., & Collaço, C.M. (2008). Overcoming ethnocentrism through developing intercultural communication sensitivity and multiculturalism. Human Communication, 11(1), 27-38.

Ferguson, I., & Lavalette, M. (2006). Globalization and global justice:Towards a social work of resistance. International Social Work, 49(3), 309-318. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872806063401 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872806063401

Foronda, C.L. (2008). A Concept Analysis of Cultural Sensitivity. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 19(3), 207-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659608317093 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659608317093

Gijón, M.T., & Morata, M.B. (Coords.). (2023). Glossary on good practices in the field of social work and human mobility. Global-ANSWER Network “Social Work and Human Mobility”. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102646

Giménez-Bertomeu, V. M., Caravaca-Sánchez, F., de Alfonseti-Hartmann, N., & Ricoy-Cano, A.J. (2024). Burnout Among Social Workers in Social Services: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence. Journal of Social Service Research, 50(4), 664-683. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2024.2371847 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2024.2371847

Gómez-Ciriano, E.J., López Peláez, A., & García Castilla, F.J. (2020). Is there anyone on the other side? About the opportunity of build educational social work focused on youth. Social Work Education, 39(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2019.1697667 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2019.1697667

Gómez-García, R., Alonso-Sangregorio, M., & Llamazares-Sánchez, M.L. (2020). Burnout in social workers and socio-demographic factors. Journal of Social Work, 20(4), 463-482. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017319837886 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017319837886

Hussein, S. (2018). Work Engagement, Burnout and Personal Accomplishments Among Social Workers: A Comparison Between Those Working in Children and Adults’ Services in England. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 45, 911-923. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-018-0872-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-018-0872-z

International Centre for Migration Policy Development [ICMPD]. (2025). ICMPD Migration Outlook 2025. Ten migration issues to look out for in 2025: Origins, key events and priorities for Europe. ICMPD. https://www.icmpd.org/publications/icmpd-migration-outlook

Jami, P.Y., Walker, D.I., & Mansouri, B. (2024). Interaction of empathy and culture: a review. Current Psychology, 43, 2965-2980. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04422-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04422-6

Karabinski, T., Haun, V.C., Nübold, A., Wendsche, J., & Wegge, J. (2021). Interventions for improving psychological detachment from work: A meta-analysis. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 26(3), 224-242. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000280 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000280

Killian, T., Cardona, B., & Hudspeth, E.F. (2017). Culturally responsive play therapy with Somali refugees. International Journal of Play Therapy, 26(1), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000040 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000040

Kim, H., & Stoner, M. (2008). Burnout and Turnover Intention Among Social Workers: Effects of Role Stress, Job Autonomy and Social Support. Administration in Social Work, 32(3), 5-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/03643100801922357 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03643100801922357

Kinman, G., & Grant, L. (2020). Emotional demands, compassion and mental health in social workers. Occupational Medicine, 70(2), 89-94. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqz144 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqz144

Klingemann, J., Sienkiewicz-Jarosz, H., Molenda, B., & Świtaj, P. (2024). Peer Support Workers in Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Exploration of Emotional Burden, Moral Distress and Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Mental Health Crisis. Community Mental Health Journal, 61, 629-638. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-024-01370-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-024-01370-8

Kohli, R. (2006). Social work with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Bloomsbury Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-62575-4

Koutsimani, P., Montgomery, A., & Georganta, K. (2019). The Relationship Between Burnout, Depression, and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [Systematic Review]. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00284 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00284

Levine, E. (2024). Toward a Critical Social Work Ethics of Immigration, Migration, and Human Rights. International Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics, 21(1), 98-136. https://doi.org/10.55521/10-021-109 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55521/10-021-109

Lizano, E.L., & Mor Barak, M. (2015). Job burnout and affective wellbeing: A longitudinal study of burnout and job satisfaction among public child welfare workers. Children and Youth Services Review, 55, 18-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.05.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.05.005

Lloyd, C., King, R., & Chenoweth, L. (2002). Social work, stress and burnout: A review. Journal of Mental Health, 11(3), 255-265. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638230020023642 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638230020023642

Luengo Kanacri, B. P., Eisenberg, N., Tramontano, C., Zuffiano, A., Caprara, M.G., Regner, E., Zhu, L., Pastorelli, C., & Caprara, G.V. (2021). Measuring Prosocial Behaviors: Psychometric Properties and Cross-National Validation of the Prosociality Scale in Five Countries [Original Research]. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.693174 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.693174

Lutz, R. (2010). Das Mandat der Sozialen Arbeit. Springer-Verlag. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-531-92716-9

Maddock, A. (2023). The Relationships between Stress, Burnout, Mental Health and Well-Being in Social Workers. The British Journal of Social Work, 54(2), 668-686. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad232 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad232

Mercer, S.W., & Reynolds, W.J. (2002). Empathy and quality of care. British Journal of General Practice, 52(Suppl), S9-12.

Mor Barak, M.E., Lizano, E.L., Kim, A., Duan, L., Rhee, M.K., Hsiao, H.Y., & Brimhall, K.C. (2016). The Promise of Diversity Management for Climate of Inclusion: A State-of-the-Art Review and Meta-Analysis. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 40(4), 305-333. https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2016.1138915 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2016.1138915

Ollier-Malaterre, A., Haar, J.M., Sunyer, A., & Russo, M. (2020). Supportive Organizations, Work–Family Enrichment, and Job Burnout in Low and High Humane Orientation Cultures. Applied Psychology, 69(4), 1215-1247. /https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12217 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12217

Parlamento Italiano. Decreto-Legge 4 ottobre 2018, n. 113, Disposizioni urgenti in materia di protezione internazionale e immigrazione, sicurezza pubblica, nonche' misure per la funzionalita' del Ministero dell'interno e l'organizzazione e il funzionamento dell'Agenzia nazionale per l'amministrazione e la destinazione dei beni sequestrati e confiscati alla criminalita' organizzata.Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana, 231, 4 ottobre 2018. https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2018/10/04/18G00140/sg

Popescu, M., & Libal, K. (2018). Social work with migrants and refugees: Challenges, best practices, and future directions. Advances in Social Work, 18(3), i-x. https://doi.org/10.18060/22600 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18060/22600

Rebolloso Pacheco, E., Hernández Plaza, S., Fernández‐Ramirez, B., & Cantón Andrés, P. (2003). The Implications of Immigration for the Training of Social Work Professionals in Spain. The British Journal of Social Work, 33(1), 49-65. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/33.1.49 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/33.1.49

Rogers, C.R. (1951). Perceptual reorganization in client-centered therapy. In R.R. Blake & G.V. Ramsey (Eds.), Perception: An approach to personality (pp. 307-327). Ronald Press Company. https://doi.org/10.1037/11505-011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/11505-011

Ruiz-Fernández, M.D., Ortiz-Amo, R., Andina-Díaz, E., Fernández-Medina, I.M., Hernández-Padilla, J.M., Fernández-Sola, C., & Ortega-Galán, A.M. (2021). Emotions, Feelings, and Experiences of Social Workers While Attending to Vulnerable Groups: A Qualitative Approach. Healthcare (Basel), 9(1), 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9010087 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9010087

Schaufeli, W.B., Desart, S., & De Witte, H. (2020). Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT)—Development, Validity, and Reliability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9495. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249495 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249495

Staub-Bernasconi, S. (2007). Soziale Arbeit: Dienstleistung oder Menschenrechtsprofession? Zum Selbstverständnis Sozialer Arbeit in Deutschland mit einem Seitenblick auf die internationale Diskussionslandschaft. In A. Lob-Hüdepohl & W. Lesch (Eds.), Ethik der Sozialen Arbeit (pp.20-54). Verlag Ferdinand Schöningh GmbH & Co. KG.

Sue, D.W., Rasheed, M.N., & Rasheed, J.M. (2015). Multicultural social work practice: A competency-based approach to diversity and social justice. John Wiley & Sons.

Taris, T.W., & Schaufeli, W.B. (2018). Individual well-being and performance at work: A conceptual and theoretical overview. In C. Cooper, Current Issues in Work and Organizational Psychology (pp.189-204). Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429468339-11

Tartakovsky, E., & Baltiansky, G. (2022). Native and immigrant social workers working with immigrants: Appraisal of the immigrant group, acculturation orientations and burnout. Health and Social Care in the Community, 30, e5115-e5124. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13926 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13926

Verde-Diego, C., Pastor-Seller, E., González-Rodríguez, R., & Peláez Quero, E. (2021). The Social Services of Spain after the neoliberal period: Longitudinal analysis from the perspective of Social Work (2012–2018). The British Journal of Social Work, 52(5), 3024-3039. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab201 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab201

Vîrgă, D., Baciu, E.L., Lazăr, T.A., & Lupșa, D. (2020). Psychological Capital Protects Social Workers from Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress. Sustainability, 12(6), 2246. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062246 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062246

Wagaman, M.A., Geiger, J.M., Shockley, C., & Segal, E.A. (2015). The Role of Empathy in Burnout, Compassion Satisfaction, and Secondary Traumatic Stress among Social Workers. Social Work, 60(3), 201-209. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swv014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swv014

Wang, W., & Zhou, M. (2016). Validation of the short form of the intercultural sensitivity scale (ISS-15). International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 55, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2016.08.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2016.08.002

Welander, M., & Jaspars, S. (Eds.). (2022). Resisting anti-refugee regimes. International Humanitarian Studies Association. https://ihsa.info/content/uploads/2022/06/IHSA-Resisting-Anti-Refugee-Regimes-Anthology-Of-Essays.pdf

World Health Organization. (2019, may 28). Burn-out an "occupational phenomenon": International Classification of Diseases. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases