When Values and Behaviors Conflict: Immigrant BSW Students’ Experiences Revealed

Abstract

This qualitative study reveals the discomfort seven immigrant bachelor of social work students reported experiencing when the behaviors expected of them as Canadian social workers conflicted with their fundamental family values. Behaviorally, participants had assimilated to Canadian and to social work cultures; however, the values they held from their home countries remained unchanged. The conflict between their unchanged values and their adapted behavior led to emotional stress in various aspects of their lives. The implications for social work education, supervision, recruiting people to the social work profession, acculturation theory, and future research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• qualitative research
• cultural competence
• acculturation
• social work students
• supervision

This study was funded by an internal University of Windsor Humanities and Social Sciences Research grant. The authors thank the participants for their valuable contribution.