Date of Award
1999
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Curt Paulsen
Second Advisor
Anthony Bibus
Third Advisor
Alice Tennis
Abstract
Recently, there has been growing interest in the role of spirituality in social work practice. Many practitioners support the inclusion of spirituality in social work practice, but there is a lack of understanding of how this can be accomplished. This exploratory qualitative study was undertaken to expand the understanding of social worker attitudes toward spirituality in practice. Five hospital social workers were interviewed using a structured interview schedule. The interviews focused on practitioners' definitions of spirituality, the factors that had influenced their definition, and the factors that influence how they respond to spirituality in practice. Themes of childhood experiences, academic experiences, and life traumas were found to be significant influencing factors. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Identifier
SC 11.MSW.1999.Wheeler.DM
Recommended Citation
Wheeler, Dena M., "Factors Influencing Attitudes of Social Workers Toward Spirituality in Practice" (1999). Theses and Graduate Projects. 970.
https://idun.augsburg.edu/etd/970