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This paper examines moral dilemmas faced by family caregivers of older adults who employ live-in migrant care workers. Being both a family caregiver as well as an employer of a live-in migrant care worker often puts family members at a crossroad, where moral decisions must be made. Lacking a formal role, family members do not have a professional code of ethics or other clear rules that can guide their actions, and their choices are rooted in cultural, community, familial, and personal values. This paper discusses moral dilemmas that result from family caregivers' dual commitment, to the wellbeing of their older sick relative who is the recipient of care, and to the wellbeing of the live-in care worker whom they employ. The paper uses relational ethics as a theoretical framework to discuss three cases that involve complex moral decision making in real life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the logistic planning, the important focus of international student mobility programmes in social work is on the field supervision process and measuring its outcome. Without a social work council in India for setting uniform standards in field education, this paper proposes a framework for field supervision to support inbound mobility students in India. The study predominantly explores the qualitative experiences of field supervisors from India, Israel, and Australia on fieldwork supervision. The themes evolved from the study are focused on the supervision process, strategies followed, challenges faced, and outcome measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In‐between groups encompass individuals who simultaneously belong to social categories that are often seen as mutually exclusive in addition to maintaining their distinct group identity. The current paper sheds light on how members of in‐between groups manage their relations within intergroup conflicts. Three studies were conducted among the Druze minority in Israel, a group that is ethnically Arab and shares the Arab identity with the Arab–Palestinian minority in Israel and simultaneously identifies as Israeli. In Study 1 (N = 300), we found that identification as Druze was positively associated with the identification as Arab and Israeli. In Study 2, we examined Druze's endorsement of conflict narratives compared to Jewish‐Israeli and Palestinian citizens (N = 271). While the latter participants endorsed their ingroup narrative more than the outgroup narrative, Druze participants endorsed both narratives equally. In Study 3, we tested Druze's solidarity with the Palestinian minority against the 2018 Nation‐State Law. We found that overall, Druze participants (N = 568) endorsed more inclusive amendments that benefited the Druze and Palestinians than exclusive amendments that benefited the Druze only. In all studies, we tested the role of identification with the rival groups. We discuss these findings and suggest possible underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Integration of digital technologies in schools raises the need of students to master technological, cognitive, and social digital literacy (DL) competencies. Objectives: Based on Hofstede's dimensional paradigm for defining culture, we address the cultural context and examine perceived and actual DL of Arabic‐speaking minority students in Israel. Methods: First, 402 Arabic‐speaking minority students from elementary Arabic‐speaking schools and 232 students from middle schools reported their DL based on the DL framework. Among them, 347 elementary and 205 middle school students performed a battery of DL tasks. Findings and Conclusions: The findings revealed a very low level of DL performance by minority students in both elementary and middle schools. The highest performance score was in information literacy: M = 1.49 and M = 1.55 out of 5.00 for elementary and middle school students respectively. Despite ubiquitous use of social networks, the lowest score was obtained in social–emotional literacy—0.23 for both elementary and middle school students. In contrast to performance, both elementary and middle school minority students estimated their digital literacy competencies as high or very high. Among the elementary students, a weak correlation was found between their DL perceptions and performance of the photo‐visual, branching, and social–emotional literacies. Among the middle school students, the only significant correlation was found between perceptions and performance of reproduction literacy. The findings raise the need to improve DL competencies of minority students and develop their metacognitive abilities. This helps to assess their DL more accurately, in order to ensure their successful functioning in digital environments. Theoretical and educational implications of the findings are discussed. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Digital literacy (DL) is the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.Previous literature discussed the concept of DL as a culturally situated phenomenon. What this paper adds: This study examined minority students from elementary and middle schools, and crosschecked their perceived DL with actual performance of DL tasks.The findings revealed a very low level of DL performance by minority students relative to the general student population in the same country.A digital over‐confidence effect was found. In contrast to performance, minority students estimated their DL as high or very high.Despite ubiquitous social networking of students, the lowest score was obtained in social–emotional literacy. Implications for practice and/or policy: DL cannot be regarded as detached from the students' context and cultural background.In strong uncertainty avoidance culture, innovation and technology integration in education seems to be perceived as a continuous threat.Educational decision‐makers need to promote a school culture with low power distance, high individualist values, and openness to uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Israel's responsibility under international law to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics in its occupied territories, Israeli officials have refused to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Through a critical discourse analysis of Israeli officials' statements regarding Israel's COVID-19 vaccination campaign, this paper explores how Israel evades this responsibility while presenting itself as committed to public health and human rights. We find that Israeli officials strategically present Palestinians as an autonomous nation when discussing COVID-19 vaccinations, despite Israel's ongoing attempts to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. Relatedly, Israel justifies its refusal to vaccinate Palestinians on the grounds of the Palestinian Authority's economic independence, thereby obscuring Israel's control over the Palestinian economy. In this way, Israel relies on citizenship and economic inequality, as internationally sanctioned forms of exclusion, to deny Palestinians their right to health. Drawing on theorists such as Michel Foucault, Achille Mbembe, and Jasbir Puar, we argue that withholding vaccines from Palestinians reveals the ways that Israel furthers its settler-colonial aims under the guise of liberal humanitarianism and economic growth. Instead of directing these conclusions toward Israel as an exceptional case, we contend that these processes reveal how settler-colonial societies use liberal frameworks of citizenship and capitalism to carry out their racialized projects of elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article presents empirical evidence regarding factors that explain the involvement of social workers from minority groups in policy practice based on data from an extensive survey of social workers from the Arab minority group in Israel (n = 218). The findings revealed that the sociopolitical context of an ethnic minority significantly affects their involvement in policy practice. In order to increase the involvement of minority social workers in policy arenas in multicultural societies, professional bodies and social work training frameworks should provide social workers with knowledge resources and professional skills, including tailored organizational support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines mental health service providers who provided care to evacuees during the Israel–Hamas conflict. Utilizing a phenomenological qualitative method, the research delves into the psychological impact on the participants' lived experiences. The sample included 25 mental health providers (13 female, age range 28–63, mean 42.4, SD 7.3; 15 psychologists and 10 social worker, average seniority 10.8 years, SD 5.2, range 2–18 years). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted between December 2023 and March 2024. The data analysis revealed a dual narrative: Participants paid a major personal price and experienced secondary traumatization manifesting in emotional detachment, physical symptoms, and heightened arousal. They also derived a profound sense of meaning and fulfillment from their work, contributing to personal and professional growth. These findings underscore the complexity of their experiences, which were marked by the challenges of secondary trauma and the resilience fostered through their work. This study emphasizes the importance of support systems, including social and familial networks and professional supervision, in navigating these challenges. This study has several limitations, including small sample size and the use of virtual interviews, suggesting the need for further research with a broader participant base and in different contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly endangers the development of at-risk young adults across various life domains, with potential enduring consequences. Despite prior reporting on the pandemic's adverse effects on these individuals, there is a lack of the empirical literature regarding their resilience. Building upon the stress process model (Pearlin, 1978), we explored the challenges of 20 at-risk young adults (aged 18–25 years) and the strategies and resources they employed to cope with these challenges during this period. Thematic analysis revealed that these young adults struggled with worsened family relationships, loneliness, mental health issues, and setbacks in their quest for independence and autonomy. However, resources and character strengths that facilitated coping strategies during this period also emerged, specifically the motivation to become a role model within their family, personal abilities, and the use of formal and informal support. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work is a highly stressful occupation, its practice requiring coping with complex situations integral to serving the most deprived populations. Professionals in this field experience varying degrees of secondary trauma, burnout and psychological distress imperiling their own well-being. This study uses the newest framework of intrinsic job attributes to examine a multidimensional model of intrinsic job quality constructs to explain perceived stress (PS) amongst national sample of social workers in Israel (N  = 2,542). Based on cross-sectional data, we employed exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to construct intrinsic job quality index. Structural equation model (SEM) and path analyses revealed the adverse effect of workload and a poor physical working environment on social workers' PS. Social environment factors relating to superiors' and co-workers' support and sense of recognition mediated the effects of workload, job autonomy, physical working environment and meaningful work on social workers' PS through diverse pathways. These findings may inform policy measures responding to the urgent need to monitor social workers' workload and suggest how to nurture a stress-reducing social environment in social services in order to promote social workers' well-being and the quality of the services they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health-care professionals (HCPs) are key trusted figures in addressing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) challenges. They are thought to influence others' health decisions by personal example. However, during the COVID-19 crisis, some HCPs hesitated to be vaccinated. We examined factors contributing to that decision. We performed 12 semi-structured interviews, between February and May 2021, with Israeli HCPs who had declined or delayed COVID-19 vaccination. Three coders conducted a combined top-down and bottom-up analysis. We identified four main themes shaping vaccine decision-making: (i) sources of information, (ii) perceptions of necessity and risks of the vaccine, (iii) individual versus collective responsibility and (iv) political climate and media influence. Participants were worried about long-term effectiveness and safety, and while many agreed that high-risk populations should be vaccinated, all considered themselves to be at low risk for serious disease. Some felt they should avoid taking a perceived risk (accepting a new vaccine) to protect society, although they felt pressured to do so. Vaccination campaign politization and the way the media approached the subject also contributed to mistrust and hesitancy to be vaccinated. These findings help us understand HCP beliefs and uncertainties about COVID-19 vaccinations. This study can help inform future campaigns targeted at HCPs to promote the acceptance of vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergenerational transmission refers to the transmission of stories, traits, abilities, ideas, behaviors, and various outcomes from parents to their children. To date, there has been little research on the intergenerational transmission of positive behavior, traits, and actions. To determine whether hope may be transmitted from one generation to the next, a qualitative study was performed, using narrative inquiry and thematic analysis. Over 4 months, four mothers of children with mental illness were engaged in repeated conversations about stories of hope related to their past and how they envisioned hope in their children. Findings indicated that hope could be transmitted to the next generation, either explicitly (verbally) or implicitly (i.e., expressed through actions involving one's children). We conclude that also positive patterns may be transmitted both explicitly and implicitly from one generation to the next. Transmitting hope between generations played a significant role in the mothers' experiences of hope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To systematically assess the effectiveness of breast cancer (BC) interventions in improving breast self‐examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), mammogram screening rates, and preventive activities in Muslim refugee and immigrant women. Design Guided by the Health Belief Model, a mixed method systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed using a sequential design. Methods: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis statement (PRISMA), the Critical Appraisal Skill Program Checklists, and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic review and meta‐analysis. A systematic search of English‐language peer‐reviewed articles was undertaken in multiple health and social sciences databases from January 1, 2015, to March 31, 2022. Randomized clinical trials and quasi‐experimental studies focused on the uptake of BSE, CBE, and mammograms were selected. Results: Fourteen articles were included in the review. Most of the studies relied on quasi‐experimental designs and were carried out in the United States of America. The qualitative analysis of BC screening interventions generated three themes: (1) education, (2) access‐focused, and (3) cultural and faith‐based. The meta‐analysis included three randomized control trials and two quasi‐experimental studies. The meta‐analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of community‐led cultural and faith‐based interventions in facilitating the completion of CBE and mammography screening. Education on BC and patient navigator interventions are more effectively used in conjunction than standalone interventions, yet community‐based cultural and faith‐based interventions are the most effective. Conclusion: This systematic and meta‐analysis review provides evidence on the effectiveness of access‐focused and cultural and faith‐based interventions in improving BC screening in Muslim refugee and immigrant women. Future research should focus on designing and measuring the effectiveness of cultural and faith‐based interventions to increase Muslim refugee and immigrant women's BC screening knowledge and practices. Clinical Relevance: This systematic and meta‐analysis review demonstrates the need to explore Muslim refugee and immigrant women's cultural contexts for developing culturally sensitive BC screening interventions. Knowledge and practice of BC and religiosity intersect with financial, geographic, and linguistic barriers to decrease participation in screening and preventive activities in Muslim refugee and immigrant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to test variables that explain long‐term commitment to volunteering among volunteers in the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic in Israel. Long‐term commitment to volunteering was tested by the participants' evaluation of the stability, consistency, and intensity of their volunteering over time. Two theoretical frameworks served for explaining commitment to volunteering: the social‐structural approach and the psychological characteristics approach. The sample was comprised of 504 Jewish participants: 173 men and 331 women. The data were collected via structured questionnaires distributed by nonprofit volunteer organizations. The most significant contribution to explaining long‐term commitment to volunteering, in all its forms, was for psychological characteristics reflected in emotions during the pandemic and in the motives for volunteering, the volunteer's gender, level of education, and tendency to volunteer during routine times. Volunteer organizations should focus on cultivating a large and motivated population of volunteers to maintain long‐term volunteering during emergencies and in routine times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy practice (PP) refers to the on-the-job activities of social workers (SWs) intended to influence the design of public policies. Despite the importance attributed to this type of practice within social work, there is limited empirical knowledge on how SWs actually engage in PP and what explains it. This study contributes to this body of knowledge by examining the engagement of eighteen Israeli local government community SWs who engaged in PP to affect their localities' policies. The study employed a qualitative method and used semi-structured interviews. The policy issues addressed were diverse, with policies for children and adults with disabilities, for physical infrastructures and for community development prominent. The participants employed foundational strategies, such as cultivating personal and professional relationships with officials in the municipality's hierarchy, and targeted strategies such as organising meetings between high-level officials and residents. Motivational, facilitating and opportunity factors can explain the engagement in PP. Our main conclusion is that local government community SWs who decided to be policy actors and create change from within adopted a 'collaborative institutional policy practice', which is based primarily on internal, collaborative and consensual strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work in Israel's indigenous Arab society developed late relative to its Jewish counterpart. Based on primary and secondary sources and semi-structured interviews with Arab social workers who were employed in social welfare bureaus during the years under review, the article describes and explains the development of social work in Israel's Arab society in its formative years. The findings indicate this social work developed under government policies that recognized the needs of Arab society but allocated its welfare bureaus fewer resources than to the country's Jewish society. These policies also failed to recognize the Arab narrative in welfare delivery and to incorporate Arab representation in decision-making. The relevant bodies in Israel that dealt with social work, primarily the Ministry of Welfare, used various strategies to maintain a dual system of welfare services – one for Jewish citizens and a poorer one for Arabs citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical neutrality is a normative arrangement that differentiates a zone of medical treatment disconnected from the field of politics. While medical neutrality aims to ensure impartial healthcare for all and to shield the healthcare personnel from political demands, it can also divert attention away from conflicts and their effects on health inequity. This article analyzes how healthcare professionals understand and negotiate the depoliticized space of the emergency department (ED) through their views on neutrality. It also examines how medical staff use depoliticized concepts of culture to account for differences in the health status of patients from disadvantaged groups. These questions are examined in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Methods: Twenty-four in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare personnel in a Jerusalem hospital's ED. All but one of the participants were Jewish. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and Grounded Theory. Results: The ED staff endorsed the perspective of medical neutrality as a nondiscriminatory approach to care. At the same time, some medical staff recognized the limits of medical neutrality in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and negotiated and challenged this concept. While participants identified unique health risks for Arab patients, they usually did not associate these risks with the effects of conflict and instead explained them in depoliticized terms of cultural and behavioral differences. Culture served as a non-controversial way of acknowledging and managing problems that have their roots in politics. Conclusions: The normative demand for neutrality works to exclude discussion of the conflict from clinical spaces. The normative exclusion of politics is a vital but under-appreciated aspect of how political conflict operates as a structural determinant of health. Healthcare personnel, especially in the ED, should be trained in structural competency. This training may challenge the neglect of issues that need to be solved at the political level and enhance health equity, social justice, and solidarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite medical advances, preterm birth and neonatal intensive care (NICU) hospitalization are demanding and pose risks for infants and parents. Various music therapy (MT) models have suggested parental singing to promote healthy bonding and development in premature infants, but evidence on long-term effects is lacking. We present the theoretical framework and intervention protocol of a resource-oriented MT approach for premature infants and their caregivers used in the international LongSTEP trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03564184). We illustrate how guiding principles manifest in MT sessions, describe frames for phases of intervention, discuss prerequisites and present hypothesized mechanisms of change. The LongSTEP MT approach is resource-oriented, emphasizes parental voice and parent-infant mutual regulation, builds on family-centered care principles, and is relevant in the NICU and beyond. Essential elements include: observation and dialogue on infant and parent needs; voice as the main musical source, with parental voice as the most prominent; active parental participation; modification of music in response to infant states and cues; and integration of the family's culture and music preferences. The music therapist facilitates and supports interaction between parents and infant. Parents learn how to adapt principles in relation to infant development across NICU hospitalization and post-discharge phases. The LongSTEP approach is feasible in culturally diverse countries where consistent parental presence is available, but requires tailoring to local circumstances and culture, particularly in the post-discharge phase. The emphasis on parent-led infant-directed singing places a higher demand on parents than other MT approaches, and requires sufficient psychosocial and musical support for parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This thematic study analyzed the experiences of Jewish Haredi (Lithuanian) patients in underground home hospitals during the second wave of COVID-19 in Israel. This minority comprises 12.6% of the Israeli population. Participants were 30 members of this hidden population, ages 59–78. Haredi complied with community directives rather than with the national directive of hospitalizing COVID-19 patient only at public hospitals. Compliance with community directives was driven by a distrust in health authorities and clinicians at public hospitals; by the preference of patient-centered care, a desired approach of care that public hospitals fail to implement; by the need to sustain beliefs, values, and traditions; by community leadership; and by the need to conserve political power. While health authorities view underground home hospitals as demonstrating non-compliance with the national directive, Haredi leaders view underground home hospitals as demonstrating a self-sufficient, patient-centered care alternative to public hospitalizations. Considering the benefits of patient-centered care and the growth of the multi-cultural global landscape, we call upon health authorities to explore the accommodation of patient-centered care for COVID-19 patients and the designing of an adaptive multi-cultural policy that address multi-cultural aspects of religious minorities as key to health promotion. We propose ways to implement multi-cultural policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]