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. 2008 Jan 1;89(3):10.1606/1044-3894.3767.
doi: 10.1606/1044-3894.3767.

What Influences Social Workers' Attitudes Toward Working With Clients With Severe Mental Illness?

Shaun M Eack  1 , Christina E Newhill  1
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What Influences Social Workers' Attitudes Toward Working With Clients With Severe Mental Illness?

Shaun M Eack et al. Fam Soc. .

Abstract

A national random survey of 2000 NASW members in post-master's practice in mental health was conducted to investigate their experiences with and attitudes about working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). Through a series of structural equation models, we examined the influence of different frustrations reported by the respondents on their attitudes toward working with individuals with SPMI. Results suggest that social workers' attitudes toward working with individuals with SPMI are primarily influenced by their frustrations related to client behaviors and treatment issues, rather than frustrations with system related issues. Implications for social work practice and directions for future research are discussed. (105 words).

Keywords: attitudes; burnout; direct practice; frustrations; schizophrenia; severe mental illness.

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Figure 1
Figure 1
Final model illustrating the relationship between frustrations and attitudes toward working with individuals with SPMI.
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