Assessment of clinical social worker's familiarity with and views about the integration of client's religion and spirituality in social work

ABSTRACT

Client's religion/spirituality (R/S) is considered an important element when working with clients in social work practice. This study aims to explore the variables associated with clinical social worker’s awareness of and notions about integrating client’s R/S into clinical practice in Kuwait. The sample (N = 235) used in the study consisted of clinical social workers in Kuwait. In the current study, the Religious/Spiritually Integrated Practice Assessment Scale (RSIPAS) is used. The findings revealed significant relationships between familiarity and clinical social worker’s awareness of integrating client’s R/S into clinical practice and two of its subscales (Feasibility, Frequency of engaging). In addition, the findings showed a significant relationship between participant's monthly income and the Feasibility to integrate subscale. In addition, the findings of this study showed that personal religiosity is a predictive factor for social worker’s awareness about integrating client’s R/S into clinical practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Clinical social work
• religion
• social worker
• spirituality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.