Social Work Chronicle

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Personality Attributes of Social Work Students:An Assessment of Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, and Resilience


Affiliations
1 University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
2 Social Work, Cauvery College for Women Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Standardised instruments were administered to assess 73 social work students at various levels of their degree programme in Tiruchirappalli, India, with regard to the manifestation of empathy, emotional intelligence and resilience. A cross-sectional comparative design was used for the study. The Connor and Davidson Resilience scale (2003), Empathy Assessment Index (2011) and Emotional Intelligence Scale (1998) were administered to the respondents to assess the manifestation of the variables of interest. Data was subjected to statistical analysis. Significant differences were seen between students of different cohorts on the variables studied, with low levels manifested in students of year 1 as against those in their final year. Significant positive relationships were seen between the three dimensions studied. Empathy and emotional intelligence were extracted as predictors of resilience through regression analysis. Implications of the findings have been discussed in terms of the need to enhance these attributes in social work students through the provision of appropriate curricular experiences.

Keywords

Resilience, Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, Social Work Students.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Bar-On, R. (1997). The Emotional Intelligence Inventory (EQ-i): Technical manual. Toronto, Canada: Multi-Health Systems.

  • Biestek, F. P. (1957). The casework relationship. Chicago: Loyola University Press.

  • Campbell-Sills, L., Cohan, S. L., & Stein, M. B. (2006). Relationship of resilience to personality, coping, and psychiatric symptoms in young adults. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(4), 585–599.

  • Caner, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence? In P. Salovey & D. J. Sluyter (Eds.), Emotional development and emotional intelligence: Educational implications. New York: Basic Books.

  • Ciarrochi, J. V., Chan, A. Y., & Caputi, P. (2000). A critical evaluation of the emotional intelligence construct. Personality and Individual Differences, 28(3), 539–561.

  • Ciarrochi, J. V., Deane, F. P., & Anderson, S. (2002). Emotional intelligence moderates the relationship between stress and mental health. Personality and Individual Differences, 32(2), 197–209.

  • College of Social Work. (2012). The professional capabilities framework. London: COSW. Retrieved from http://www.collegeofsocialwork.org/pcf.aspx

  • Collins, S., Coffey, M., & Morris, L. (2010). Social work students: Stress, support and wellbeing. British Journal of Social Work, 40(3), 963–982.

  • Connor, K. M., & Davidson, J. R. (2003). Development of a new resilience scale: The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRISC).Depression and Anxiety, 18(2), 76–82.

  • Considine, T., Hollingdale, P., & Neville, R. (2015). Social work, pastoral care and resilience. Pastoral Care in Education, 33(4), 214–219.

  • Cooke, G. P., Doust, J. A., & Steele, M. C. (2013). A survey of resilience, burnout, and tolerance of uncertainty in Australian general practice registrars. BMC Medical Education, 13(1), 1.

  • Coughlan, S. (2013, October 15). Wilshaw’s tough message on child protection services. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24533502

  • de las Olas Palma-García, M., & Hombrados-Mendieta, I. (2014a). The development of resilience in social work students and professionals.Journal of Social Work, 14(4), 380–397.

  • de las Olas Palma-Garcia, M., & Hombrados-Mendieta, I. (2014b). Resilience and personality in social work students and social workers. International Social Work: Sage Journal. doi:10.1177/0020872814537856.

  • Dennison, S. T. (2011). Interdisciplinary role play between social work and theater students. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 31(4), 415–430.

  • Di Blasi, Z., Harkness, E., Ernst, E. Georgiou, A., & Kleijnen, J. (2001). Influence of context effects on health outcomes: A systematic review. The Lancet, 357(9258), 757–762.

  • Dulewicz, V., & Higgs, M. (2000). Emotional intelligence: A review and evaluation study. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 15(4), 341– 372.

  • Dymond, R. F. (1949). A scale for the measurement of empathic ability. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 13(2), 127–133.

  • Farchi, M., Cohen, A., & Mosek, A. (2014). Developing specific selfefficacy and resilience as first responders among students of social work and stress and trauma studies. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 34(2), 129–146.

  • Garcia, G. M., & Calvo, J. C. A. (2013). Psychometric properties of ConnorDavidson Resilience Scale in a Spanish sample of entrepreneurs. Psicothema, 25(2), 245–251.

  • George, D., & Mallery, M. (2003). Using SPSS for windows step by step: A simple guide and reference. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

  • Gerdes, K. E., & Segal, E. (2011). Importance of empathy for social work practice: Integrating new science. Social Work, 56(2), 141–148.doi:10.1093/sw/56.2.141

  • Gerits, L., Derksen, J. L., Verbruggen, A. B., & Katz, M. (2005). Emotional intelligence profiles of nurses caring for people with severe behavior problems. Personality and Individual Differences, 38(1), 33–43.

  • Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. New York: Bantam Books.

  • Grant, L. (2014). Hearts and minds: Aspects of empathy and wellbeing in social work students. Social Work Education, 33(3), 338–352.

  • Grant, L., & Brewer, B. (2014). Critical reflection and reflective supervision.In L. Grant & G. Kinman (Eds.), Developing resilience for social work practice (pp. 54–72). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

  • Grant, L., & Kinman, G. (2012). Enhancing wellbeing in social work students: Building resilience in the next generation. Social Work Education, 31(5), 605–621.

  • Grant, L., & Kinman, G. (Eds.). (2014). Developing resilience for social work practice. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

  • Grant, L., Kinman, G., & Alexander, K. (2014). What’s all this talk about emotion? Developing emotional intelligence in social work students. Social Work Education, 33(7), 874–889.

  • Guo, W. H., & Tsui, M.S. (2010). From resilience to resistance: A reconstruction of the strengths perspective in social work practice.International Social Work, 53(2), 233–245.

  • Haddadi, P., & Besharat, M. A. (2010). Resilience, vulnerability and mental health. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 5, 639–642.

  • Harr, C., & Moore, B. (2011). Compassion fatigue among social work students in field placements. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 31(3), 350–363.

  • Hjemdal, O., Friborg, O., Stiles, T. C., Rosenvinge, J. H., & Martinussen, M. (2006). Resilience predicting psychiatric symptoms: A prospective study of protective factors and their role in adjustment to stressful life events. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 13(3), 194–201.

  • Howe, D. (2008). The emotionally intelligent social worker. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

  • Hurley, D. J., Martin, L., & Hallberg, R. (2013). Resilience in child welfare: A social work perspective. International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 4(2), 259–273.

  • Kadushin, A. (1990). The social work interview (3rd ed.). New York: Columbia University Press.

  • Kapoulitsas, M., & Corcoran, T. (2015). Compassion fatigue and resilience: A qualitative analysis of social work practice. Qualitative Social Work, 14(1), 86–101.

  • Kinman, G., & Grant, L. (2011). Exploring stress resilience in trainee social workers: The role of emotional and social competencies. British Journal of Social Work, 41(2), 261–275.

  • Lietz, C. A., Gerdes, K. E., Sun, F., Geiger, J. M., Wagaman, M. A., & Segal, E. A. (2011). The Empathy Assessment Index (EAI): A confirmatory factor analysis of a multidimensional model of empathy. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 2(2), 104–124.

  • Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R., & Salovey, P. (1999). Emotional intelligence meets traditional standards for an intelligence. Intelligence, 27(4), 267–298.

  • Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence? In P. Salovey & D. Sluyter (Eds.), Emotional development and emotional intelligence: Educational implications. New York: Basic Books.

  • Mercer, S. W., & Reynolds, W. J. (2002). Empathy and quality of care. British Journal of General Practice, 52(Suppl.), S9–12.

  • Morrison, T. (2007). Emotional intelligence, emotions and social work: Context, characteristics, contributions and challenges. British Journal of Social Work, 37(2), 245–263.

  • Munro, E. (2011). The Munro review of child protection: Final report: A child centred system. London: Department for Education.

  • Norman, E. (2000). Resiliency enhancement: Putting the strengths perspective into social work practice. New York: Columbia University Press.

  • Olson, K., Kemper, K. J., & Mahan, J. D. (2015). What factors promote resilience and protect against burnout in firstyear pediatric and medicine-pediatric residents? Journal of Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.doi:10.1177/2156587214568894.

  • Pareek, U. (1997). Training instruments for human resource development.New Delhi: TMH.

  • Parker, J. D., Summerfeldt, L. J., Hogan, M. J., & Majeski, S. A. (2004).Emotional intelligence and academic success: Examining the transition from high school to university. Personality and Individual Differences, 36(1), 163–172.

  • Perlman, H. H. (1979). Relationship: The heart of helping people. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

  • Petrides, K. V., Frederickson, N., & Furnham, A. (2004). The role of trait emotional intelligence in academic performance and deviant behavior at school. Personality and Individual Differences, 36(2), 277–293.

  • Pooley, J. A., & Cohen, L. (2010). Resilience: A definition in context. Australian Community Psychologist, 22(1), 30–37.

  • Raines, J. C. (1990). Empathy in clinical social work. Clinical Social Work Journal, 18(1), 57–72.

  • Rogers, C. R. (1959). A theory of therapy, personality, and interpersonal relationships, as developed in the client-centered framework. In S.Koch (Ed.), Psychology: A study of a science (Vol. 3, pp. 184–256).New York: McGraw-Hill.

  • Rogers, C. R. (1961). A theory of psychotherapy with schizophrenics and a proposal for its empirical investigation. In J. G. Dawson & N. P. Dellis (Eds.), Psychotherapy with schizophrenics (pp. 3–19). Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press.

  • Rutter, M. (1985). Resilience in the face of adversity. Protective factors and resistance to psychiatric disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 147(6), 598–611.

  • Rutter, M. (2013). Annual research review: Resilience-clinical implications. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(4), 474–487.

  • Saleebey, D. (2006). The strengths perspective in social work practice (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

  • Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185–211.

  • Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J., & Dornheim, L. (1998). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(2), 167–177.

  • Shulman, L. (2009). The skills of helping individuals, families, groups, and communities. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole/Cengage Learning.

  • Singh, S. K. (2006). Social work professionals’ emotional intelligence, locus of control and role efficacy: An exploratory study. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 4(2), 39–45.

  • Spiro, H. (1992). What is empathy and can it be taught? Annals of Internal Medicine, 116(10), 843–846.

  • Stanley, S., & Metilda, G. B. (2016a). Reflective ability, empathy, and emotional intelligence in undergraduate social work students: A cross-sectional study from India. Social Work Education, 35(5), 560–575.

  • Stanley, S., & Metilda, G. B. (2016b). Stress, anxiety, resilience and coping in social work students (a study from India). Social Work Education, 35(1), 78–88.

  • Stanley, S., & Sethuramalingam, V. (2015). Empathy in psychosocial intervention: A theoretical overview. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 20(1), 51–61.

  • Stepien, K. A., & Baernstein, A. (2006). Educating for empathy. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 21(5), 524–530.

  • Stevens, M., & Higgins, D. J. (2002). The influence of risk and protective factors on burnout experienced by those who work with maltreated children. Child Abuse Review, 11(5), 313–331.

  • Suchman, A. L., Roter, D., Green, M., & Lipkin Jr., M. (1993). Physician satisfaction with primary care office visits. Medical Care, 31(12), 1083–1092.

  • Sudbery, J. (2002). Key features of therapeutic social work: The use of relationship. Journal of Social Work Practice, 16(2), 149–162.

  • Turnage, B. F., Hong, Y. J., Stevenson, A. P., & Edwards, B. (2012). Social work students’ perceptions of themselves and others: Self-esteem, empathy, and forgiveness. Journal of Social Service Research, 38(1), 89–99.

  • Turner, L. M. (2013). Encouraging Professional Growth among Social Work Students. The British Journal of Social Work, 43(5), 853–871.

  • Van Rooy, D. L., & Viswesvaran, C. (2004). Emotional intelligence: A meta-analytic investigation of predictive validity and nomological net. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 65(1), 71–95.

  • Wald, J., Taylor, S., Asmundson, G. J. G., Jang, K. L., & Stapleton, J.(2006) ‘Literature review of concepts. Psychological resiliency’ (Final Report W7711-057959/A). Toronto, Canada: Defence R & D. Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 520–528.

  • Wilson, G. (2013). Evidencing reflective practice in social work education: Theoretical uncertainties and practical challenges. British Journal of Social Work, 43(1), 154–172.


Abstract Views: 353

PDF Views: 1




  • Personality Attributes of Social Work Students:An Assessment of Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, and Resilience

Abstract Views: 353  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Selwyn Stanley
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Metilda G. Bhuvaneshwari
Social Work, Cauvery College for Women Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract


Standardised instruments were administered to assess 73 social work students at various levels of their degree programme in Tiruchirappalli, India, with regard to the manifestation of empathy, emotional intelligence and resilience. A cross-sectional comparative design was used for the study. The Connor and Davidson Resilience scale (2003), Empathy Assessment Index (2011) and Emotional Intelligence Scale (1998) were administered to the respondents to assess the manifestation of the variables of interest. Data was subjected to statistical analysis. Significant differences were seen between students of different cohorts on the variables studied, with low levels manifested in students of year 1 as against those in their final year. Significant positive relationships were seen between the three dimensions studied. Empathy and emotional intelligence were extracted as predictors of resilience through regression analysis. Implications of the findings have been discussed in terms of the need to enhance these attributes in social work students through the provision of appropriate curricular experiences.

Keywords


Resilience, Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, Social Work Students.

References