Elizabeth Lewis Rompf

Choice of Social Work as a Career: Possible Influences

Little is known about why students choose social work for a career. Certain life events in the family of origin may exert a compelling influence, though other factors are certainly involved. This study examines the influence of selected life events and such factors as prior employment, volunteering, and influential persons via a survey of 415 social work students and a comparison group of 203 nonsocial work students. Social work students were more likely to report problems such as alcoholism and emotional illness within their families of origin and to attribute these experiences to their choice of career.

Math Anxiety: A Comparison of Social Work and Non-Social Work Students

Social work students often complain and grumble about having to take courses in research methods and statistics. Do their complaints originate from deep-seated math anxiety? The current study investigated the math anxiety and math backgrounds of 163 undergraduate social work students and 256 non—social work majors. Social work majors were found to have much higher levels of math anxiety than a cross section of students enrolled in introductory statistics courses and found to have taken fewer math courses in high school and college.

Practicum Instruction: Warning Signs of Boundary Problems and What to Do About Them

Abstract Many of the most troublesome student-client relationship problems found in practicum settings can be illuminated by the use of the boundary concept. Practicum instructors who depict the role relationship between the social work student and the client as defined by complex boundaries, can employ a set of behavioral cues to assist in the detection of boundary difficulties. The utility of boundary identification will be demonstrated by applying the concept in a number of representative practicum situations. Special attention is given to “non-traditional” mental health settings and public-sector social work roles. Specific supervisory and educational interventions are also recommended.

Spirituality and Religiosity: Their Effects on Undergraduate Social Work Career Choice

ABSTRACT This study explores the role spirituality plays in selecting social work as a profession among 70 undergraduate students at a small private Christian college and a large state university. The relationship between spirituality and career motivation is assessed by the Abbreviated Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire and student self-report of career motivations. Findings from this exploratory study indicate that more than 80% of students considered their spirituality to be influential in their career choice, and significant relationships were found between students’ perception of their career as a “calling,” the degree of spiritual influence on career choice, and their additional motivations for choosing social work as a career. This article discusses the research findings, explores theoretical and practical implications for social work practice and education at both secular and nonsecular schools, and encourages further study of the role spirituality plays in the careers of current and future social work practitioners.

A Community-Based Study of Family-Friendly Workplaces

ABSTRACT This applied research study is part of a collaborative effort by local government representatives, business leaders, and social work researchers to investigate workplace support for family needs. It is one of the first to report findings about family-friendly workplace policies and practices across different size and sector work organizations in one community. The prevalence and distribution of these policies and practices are investigated because they can enhance the quality of life for individuals and families and thus should be accessible to all members of the workforce. Findings from a sample of 88 small, medium and large work organizations within the private and public sectors reveal that many employers offer flexible work arrangements while few provide child care services; large organizations as well as organizations in the public or nonprofit sectors provide more work-family stress management benefits than smaller organizations or those in the for-profit sector; large organizations also provide more leave time and more dependent care services. Comparability with other studies, future research needs, and implications for community practice are discussed.