Stress In Social Work Essay

Introduction Within the social work profession, stress is an element that can be experienced by the client and social worker. Stress is considered the physical, mental, and emotional strain that results in negative consequences (The American Institute of Stress, 2017). For instance, the behavior of the client and social worker can be influenced by stressful experiences or by observing others in a stressful situation. In social psychology, this influence is based on the learning theory of social behavior (Lewis, 1936). The impact of stress relates to the learning theory through the social work practice, the social worker, and the community.

The learning theory related to social work practice The learning theory has evolved to help describe the influence of behaviors within social situations. For example, there is a study on the model of decisions from experience (DFE) that is a part of the

In addition to stress experienced in the workplace, Huss (2012) describes how social workers can be subjected to secondary traumatic stress caused by the community-based problems that they experience. Depending on the community, social workers can assist families that experience domestic violence, homelessness, and drug and alcohol related issues. Furthermore, the social workers assist clients within the community that are dealing with chronic stress based on their present, past, and recurring traumas. This can cause mental strain if the stress from these situations are consistent. Gonzalez and Martin (2011) state that behavior is determined by social information and by the effects of past experiences in similar situations, which can drive an individual’s motivation, attitudes, and decision-making abilities. Understanding how stress can influence behavior will allow the social worker to acknowledge and manage stress in an efficient way to remain effective in their work throughout the