Donna Wang

The Benefits of Gardening for Older Adults: A Systematic Review of the Literature

This article systematically reviews evidence for gardening as a beneficial activity for older adults. The authors reviewed 22 articles that assessed the benefits of gardening for both community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults. Through various research designs (quantitative and qualitative) and measurements utilized, the results reveal that gardening can be an activity that promotes overall health and quality of life, physical strength, fitness and flexibility, cognitive ability, and socialization. The implementation of various aspects of gardening as health-promoting activities transcend contexts of practice and disciplines and can be used in urban and rural communities as both individual and group activities.

Attitudes Toward Gay Men and Lesbian Women Among Heterosexual Social Work Faculty

This study reports results from a national Internet-based survey administered anonymously to a cross-section of social work faculty in the United States. Drawn from a sampling frame of 700 accredited or in candidacy schools, data were collected between November 2010 and March 2011. We investigate the role of sex, sexual orientation, race, religious affiliation and beliefs, religiosity, political ideology, sexism, and interest in sexuality/LGBTQ issues. Race, religiosity, political ideology, and sexism are associated with sexual prejudice, which was endorsed among a small percentage (14%) of the sample (n = 303). Outcome scores were not statistically different based on the targets’ sex. Strategies are recommended to reduce sexual prejudice among social work faculty and to increase institutional support for acceptance in the academy.

Social Workers’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults: A Review of the Literature

Ageist attitudes toward older adults have been recognized as barriers to recruiting and training competent social workers. This article provides a systematic review of the literature that focused on social workers’ and social work students’ attitudes toward older adults and working with older adults. The authors sought empirical studies that used an attitudinal measure of ageism with a social work sample, and a total of 20 articles met the criteria. Characteristics of the studies’ participants, methodology, instruments, and results were evaluated. This article discusses the findings and offers implications for future research.

Predicting Social Work Students’ Interest in Gerontology: Results From an International Sample

The need for social workers with a specialization in gerontology has become a global priority. The purpose of this study was to explore social work students’ interest in gerontology. This cross-sectional survey was completed by 1,042 students from the United States, England, and Australia, and only 5.4% of the sample indicated an interest in gerontology. Results of the logistic regression found that personal aging beliefs and the frequency of time spent with an older adult were significant in explaining gerontological interest. The infusion of aging content may facilitate further advancement in the field, but additional strategies may also be needed.

“Being Grounded”: Benefits of Gardening for Older Adults in Low-Income Housing

This study reports the findings of a qualitative evaluation of gardening programs for low-income minority older adults living in senior housing. A total of 20 individuals from three senior housing buildings participated in focus groups to discuss the benefits of and motivations for community gardening. The nine main themes of why seniors choose to participate in gardening were mental health benefits, the end product (fruits and vegetables), continuation of a past life, something to do/responsibility, beauty and connection to growth, connecting with others, physical health, learning something new, and helping each other out. These findings are placed in the context of theoretical perspectives and past studies. Implications for policy and relevance to senior housing are offered.

The use of self and reflective practice in relational teaching and adult learning: a social work perspective

This article explores the relationship between reflective practice and relational teaching as a basis for a teaching philosophy for adult learners. Concepts such as countertransference, authenticity and use of self are highlighted as essential for effective teaching in the twenty-first century. These concepts, along with adult learning theories, are integrated into a teaching philosophy that aims to maximize teacher effectiveness and awareness as well as student learning.

Perceived Benefits of Yoga among Urban School Students: A Qualitative Analysis

This study reports on the findings of a qualitative evaluation of a yoga intervention program for urban middle and high school youth in New York City public and charter schools. Six focus groups were conducted with students who participated in a year-long yoga program to determine their perceptions of mental and physical benefits as well as barriers and challenges. Results show that students perceived the benefits of yoga as increased self-regulation, mindfulness, self-esteem, physical conditioning, academic performance, and stress reduction. Barriers and challenges for a yoga practice include lack of time and space. The extent to which the benefits experienced are interrelated to one another is discussed. Suggestions for future research and school-based programming are also offered.

Connecting Older Adults to the Community Through Multimedia: An Intergenerational Reminiscence Program

Reminiscence programs are believed to be beneficial for older adults; however, benefits may not be exclusively related to reminiscing but to group process. A reminiscence program for older adults aimed at intergenerational connection through multimedia is reported. This evaluation utilized three sources of data: participants stories, focus groups conducted with group members, and responses from social networking websites along with blog readers. Overall, results show that participants benefited from the program by having a vehicle to tell their story and an activity that fulfilled social needs. Additionally, community members benefited from and learned about participants in a way that utilized efficient modes of communication and media. Findings support the intergenerationality of this program in that it was able to connect older adults with younger generations both in person and virtually.

Caregiving for Dementia in Asian Communities: Implications for Practice

Dementia can be debilitating not only for the older adult suffering from memory loss and confusion, but for family members as well. Understanding caregiving for ethnic minorities is critical. In Asian communities, addressing dementia and other mental health issues can be compounded by cultural factors such as perceptions of mental health and caregiving. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on the perceptions and knowledge of dementia in Asian communities, discuss the consequences of caregiving, and discuss implications for practice and research.

Feasibility of a Yoga Intervention for Enhancing the Mental Well-Being and Physical Functioning of Older Adults Living in the Community

This study assessed the feasibility of a yoga intervention to improve the mental and physical well-being of older adults. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 18 older adults living in a low-income housing complex. Utilizing a classical experimental design, the participants were assigned to either a yoga group or a socialization group; both met twice a week for an hour for four weeks. Results showed that although there is inconclusive evidence to demonstrate that the yoga intervention was superior to the socialization group in improving mental and physical health, yoga could provide some benefit for older adults.