Nehami Baum

No Longer Pregnant, Not Yet a Mother Giving Birth Prematurely to a Very-Low-Birth-Weight Baby

In this article we present the findings of a qualitative examination of 30 mothers of very-low-birth-weight babies. Interviews conducted with the mothers when the babies were still in neonatal hospitalization show that virtually all the mothers described their delivery both as a traumatic event, and as a nonevent in which they felt that they barely participated. Most of them blamed themselves for not carrying full term, some blamed others, and some believed the premature delivery saved their baby’s life. Following their truncated pregnancies, their “nonparticipation” in the delivery, and their separation from their newborn immediately after the delivery, virtually all the women reported difficulty grasping that they were mothers. Many reported a sense of loss, emptiness, and frustration that the baby was no longer inside. The women took a variety of measures, including magical means and parenting behaviors, to safeguard their vulnerable babies and to become mothers within the constraints of the neonatal unit.

The Male Way of Mourning Divorce: When, What, and How

Based on the literature on divorce, this paper explores the distinct ways in which men mourn the losses inherent in the breakup of a marriage. It argues that men have a distinct way of mourning that differs from that of women. They start the mourning process later than women, mourn the loss of their home and children more than the loss of their wives, and tend to express their mourning through actions rather than in words or obvious emotional manifestations of grief. The paper considers possible reasons for these behaviors and their implications for practitioners.

Changes in the Self-Concepts of Divorced Women

Abstract This study, conducted on a heterogeneous sample of 70 divorced custodial mothers in Israel, explores changes in the self-concept of divorced women. Findings showed that most of the study participants saw themselves as having changed, and improved, in the surveyed aspects of self-concept. Comparing their present situation to that before their divorce, most reported that they became more independent, more in control of their lives, and more responsible for themselves. They reported feeling greater self-esteem, more competent, and more likely to regard the tasks facing them as challenges. Moreover, they perceived these changes as very important and satisfying. On the other hand, a quarter of the divorced women saw themselves either as unchanged or as having changed in an undesirable way. The findings support the view that self-concept can change in adulthood, as well as the claim that divorce brings not only loss but also opportunity for self-development. Further study using a prospective, longitudinal design is recommended.

Professional Growth in Turbulent Times: An impact of political violence on social work practice in Israel

• Summary: This article examines professional growth among Jewish and Arab social workers in Israel in the wake of the Second Intifada. The paper is based on a further in-depth analysis of data from semi-structured face to face and telephone interviews with 58 social workers. • Findings: The findings show professional growth, in the form of increased skills and knowledge, improved professional identity, and greater team cohesion. The major facilitators of these developments were the recognition and resources the workers received from their society and the support provided by and within their place of employment for coping with their distress and with the tasks they had to perform. Such growth was found among two-thirds of the Jewish workers, and none among the Arab workers. The data analysis outlines likely reasons for these main findings, as well as what facilitates pride in one’s work within the context of violent political conflict, and what does not. • Applications : Implications for future practice and research are highlighted.

Coping With “Absence-Presence”: Noncustodial Fathers' Parenting Behaviors

This article is based on the view that the nature of the divorced fathers involvement with his children is affected by psychological processes that enable him to separate his parental from his spousal role and identity. It argues that the ability to cope with the simultaneous absence of the spousal role and identity and presence of the paternal role and identity is a key factor in shaping the divorced fathers behavior toward his children. The article illustrates the claim in 3 case studies showing (a) parental functioning marred by ongoing conflict with the childrens mother, (b) disengagement, and (c) stable and consistent parental functioning within the inevitable limitations of noncustodial fatherhood.

Social Work Students' Feelings and Concerns about the Ending of their Fieldwork Supervision

This qualitative study examines the feelings and concerns of 80 social work students at the ending of their fieldwork supervision. The findings show that students who described good relationships reported mixed or ambivalent feelings about the ending, deriving from their warm feelings of attachment, on the one hand, and from their drive to grow and develop, on the other. Those who described poor or fair relationships were spared feelings of sadness or loss, but they were also left without good feelings and with little ability to express their bad ones. The paper offers practical suggestions for improving the supervisory process and ending the fieldwork supervision.

Social Work Students' Pre-placement Anxiety: An International Comparison

This paper compares the degree and nature of anxiety experienced by American and Israeli social work students as they anticipate beginning field placement. Despite having greater prior exposure to social work through relevant coursework and experience, American students were significantly more anxious than Israeli ones. Overall, Americans reported a slightly higher sense of preparedness, but this difference was not statistically significant. While there were some shared worries, notably regarding the quantity and quality of field instruction, and their capacity to meet both field and academic obligations, specific concerns regarding field agencies, clients, and social work education differed between the groups, likely reflecting the distinct social, cultural, historical and educational contexts. Implications for social work education and future research are discussed.

After a terror attack: Israeli — Arab professionals’ feelings and experiences

This paper discusses the feelings and experiences of Israeli-Arab social workers following terror attacks during the Second Intifada, against the background of two contrasting perspectives: Terror Management Theory and the Contact Hypothesis. The findings, based on in-depth interviews with 25 professionals, show pervasive tension and anxiety following attacks. Consistent with the Contact Hypothesis, however, findings also show that the interviewees’ degree of closeness with Jewish colleagues affected both their own feelings and behaviors and those of the Jews they spoke about. Relationships lacking warmth or friendship created distancing after an attack. On the other hand, interviewees with warm and friendly relations with Jewish co-workers reported heightened alertness associated with discomfort following an attack. Findings also show that close relations with their Jewish colleagues could alleviate considerable anxiety and exclusion they felt after terror attacks.

Self-Differentiation and Narcissism in Divorced Parents' Co-Parental Relationships and Functioning

Abstract A theoretical model explaining co-parental relationship and parental functioning after divorce by means of two personality traits: narcissism and self-differentiation was proposed and empirically tested on 100 divorced Israeli parents (50 former couples). A LISREL analysis of the data (separate for men and women) led to some modification in the model, suggesting direct and indirect effects. The findings are interpreted in the discussion and their clinical and research implications are considered.

The Unheard Gender: The Neglect of Men as Social Work Clients

This critical review shows that, despite increasing attention to fathers in social work practice and research, men are still largely the ‘unheard gender’. Almost all the social work literature that deals with men discusses them as fathers, namely in terms of their function in the family. Very little of it looks at men in other roles or situations or concerns itself with mens experiences, feelings or needs. Similar neglect of men characterises social work practice and training. The review points to a vicious circle in which the neglect of men in research, practice and training reinforce one another. It offers explanations for the neglect and suggestions for how to better include men as social work clients.