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PurposeThe study covers two different forms of financial support for households, income support for single parents and reimbursements for depression medicines, and explores their relationships with the demand for child protection services.Design/methodology/approachThe data were retrieved from the Sotkanet, the Finnish Indicator Bank, and included 292 Finnish municipalities. It was hypothesised that the effect of income support for single-parent households on the need for child protection is mediated by reimbursements for depression medicines. The hypotheses were tested by using a conditional process analysis program, PROCESS (Model 4).FindingsIt was found that income support reduces the proportion of reimbursements for depression medicines in a municipality, which in turn reduces the need for child protection services. At the level of social policy, the study tentatively suggests that the social welfare system may affect the demand for child protection by investing in income support for single-parent households.Research limitations/implicationsThe choice of variables does not fully explain the effect of the mechanism. The relationships that are found in this study can have hidden factors which affect them. Further, the data have only 292 cases, which is quite a small sample, and is limited to Finland.Originality/valueThe study suggests that the social welfare system may affect the demand for child protection by investing in income support for single-parent households.

PurposeThe paper presents a study on whether citizens’ immigration attitudes shape their attitudes towards social welfare in three Nordic countries.Design/methodology/approachThe main analysis was performed using linear regression analysis. Data were retrieved from the eighth round of the European Social Survey (2016). The data cover the Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish respondents (N = 5,021).FindingsThe analyses indicate that citizens’ immigration attitudes are associated with their social welfare attitudes. The more positive the attitudes towards immigration are, the more positive the attitudes toward social welfare will be. Further, people in the political Left have more positive attitudes towards social welfare compared to those in the political Right; but, the immigration issue is more divisive of the political Left’s opinion than that of the Right.Research limitations/implicationsPublic opinion research has its limitations because behind an individual’s opinion there are many hidden factors. An individual may also have different opinions depending on the dimensions of the welfare state.Social implicationsIf the immigration issue reduces the support for social welfare among the political Left, it may reduce the legitimacy of the Nordic social policy because the support of the political Left has traditionally been in favour of the universal principles of the welfare state.Originality/valueThe association of the immigration issue and social welfare attitudes has been broadly studied; but, the interaction of the immigration issue and political opinion on social welfare attitudes is less studied.

Sosiaalityöntekijät työskentelevät nuorisopsykiatriassa erityistyöntekijöinä tuoden sosiaalista näkökulmaa moniammatilliseen vuoropuheluun. Nuorisopsykiatriassa on viime vuosina kehitetty hoitomalleja. Samalla erityistyöntekijöiden työnkuvaa on pyritty vahvistamaan. Artikkelissa sosiaalityön psykososiaalisen asiantuntijuuden jäsentymistä tarkastellaan nuorisopsykiatrian avohoidon monialaisessa ja muuttuneessa toimintaympäristössä. Tutkimuksen aineisto koostuu nuorisopsykiatrian ammattilaisille järjestetyistä fokusryhmähaastatteluista. Nuorisopsykiatriassa psykososiaalinen sosiaalityö jäsennetään kaksoisroolina, joka koostuu nuoren sosiaalisen toimintakyvyn ja perheen kokonaistilanteen arvioimisesta ja palveluverkoston koordinoinnista sekä terapeuttisesta työstä. Ammattiryhmien haastatteluissa korostui yhteisesti näkemys siitä, että lähtökohtana sosiaalityöntekijän asiantuntijuudelle nuorisopsykiatriassa on ymmärrys psyykkisten oireiden vaikutuksesta nuoren sosiaaliseen toimintakykyyn.

This systematic review followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The primary aim of this research was to identify risks and protective factors for the mental health of forced migrants. The secondary aim was to suggest an alternative, more comprehensive approach in social work that surpasses usual diagnoses and intrinsically contradicts the medicalization of mental health issues of forced migrants. The search was conducted between January 2015 and January 2021. As a result, 29 studies met inclusion criteria. Medicalizing mental health issues by relying solely on the effectiveness of medicine was a controversial risk factor that negatively affected daily life activities of refugees and reduced their willingness for seeking professional mental health services. Empowering vulnerable minorities by giving them back their power and agency to be able to speak for themselves and raise voices of trauma and recovery was the missing protective factor for a sustainable mental health practice. The benefits of group-based interventions were highlighted in which communities and individuals address mental health issues as well as isolation through building collective identities and support networks. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) can add more strength to any kind of mental health interventions. Finally, the benefits of applying an ecological perspective for the study of the mental health of refugees, and its implications for a sustainable intercultural practice, were discussed. Social workers in this model are the representatives of at-risk groups, and thus require more agency and creativity in reflecting client’s concrete needs.

Objectives Loneliness and social isolation both increase mortality and are likely to affect health via several pathways. However, information on the potential pathways remains scarce. We investigated the associations between loneliness, social isolation, and mortality, and possible mechanisms underlying these connections. Methods The analyzed data comprised a prospective population-based cohort of Finnish men (42–61 years at baseline, n = 2588) who were followed up for an average of 23.2 years. Mortality data were obtained from the national population register in 2012. Cox proportional hazards analysis with adjustments for possible confounding factors was used to examine the associations between loneliness and social isolation at baseline and all-cause, injury, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the mechanisms underlying the associations of loneliness and social isolation with mortality. Results Loneliness predicted all-cause mortality, even after adjustments for all covariates. Loneliness predicted cancer mortality, except after adjustments for lifestyle variables or Human Population Laboratory (HPL) depression scores, and also predicted CVD mortality, except after adjustments for HPL depression scores. Social isolation predicted all-cause mortality and injury mortality. The effect of social isolation on all-cause mortality was mediated by loneliness and HPL depression scores. Conclusions Our findings suggest that both loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of all-cause mortality, while they have differing effects on different causes of death. Loneliness and depressive symptoms may mediate the effect of social isolation on increased mortality.

Sosiaalityöntekijät toimivat nuorisopsykiatriassa erityistyöntekijän roolissa tuoden sosiaalista ja sosiaalityön näkökulmaa moniammatilliseen keskusteluun. Helsingin ja Uudenmaan sairaanhoitopirin (HUS) nuorisopsykiatriassa on viime vuosina siirrytty entistä fokusoidumpiin hoitomalleihin ja erityistyöntekijöiden työnkuvaa on pyritty jäsentämään uudelleen. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan sitä, mitkä tekijät vaikuttavat sosiaalityön psykososiaalisen asiantuntijuuden hyödyntämiseen moniammatillisessa poliklinikkatyössä ja mitkä psykososiaalisen työn osa-alueet rajataan sosiaalityöntekijän tehtävien ulkopuolelle. Tutkimuksen aineisto on kerätty kahdessa osassa nuorisopsykiatrian avohoidon työntekijöiltä e-kyselyllä ja fokusryhmähaastatteluilla. Noin 60 prosenttia työntekijöistä oli sitä mieltä, että nuorisopsykiatrian sosiaalityöntekijää hyödynnetään sosiaalityötä vaativissa tehtävissä. Tehtävien jäsentämisessä oli vastausten perusteella eroavuuksia, esimerkiksi osa työntekijöistä koki, etteivät sosiaalityöntekijän tehtävät eroa hoidollista työtä tekevien ammattiryhmien tehtävistä. Noin 70 prosenttia vastaajista koki sosiaalityöntekijöiden tehtävien kuitenkin palvelevan potilaiden tarvetta. Sosiaalityön psykososiaalisen asiantuntijuuden hyödyntämiseen vaikuttivat poliklinikoiden hoitotyön tavoitteet ja tiimityöskentelyn rakenne, sosiaalityöntekijän oma ammatti-identiteetti, työtahdin kiristyminen ja moniammatillisen työkulttuurin muutokset. Terveydenhuollossa jokaisella ammattilaisella on oma roolinsa ja yhteistyössä syntyy epävirallisia normeja siitä, mitkä ovat selkeästi jaettua aluetta ja missä tehtävissä rajaa ei ylitetä. Hoitotyön tavoitteet eivät saisi liikaa ohjata sosiaalityön jäsentymistä psykiatrisessa avohoidossa. Tämä edellyttää sosiaalityön vahvempaa tunnistamista ja samalla sosiaalityöntekijöiden aktiivisuutta sekä oman alansa asiantuntijuuden vahvistamista osaksi moniammatillista yhteistyötä ja tiimityöskentelyn rakenteita.

The present study examines the association between individualistic values and citizens´ attitudes towards the state’s welfare responsibility (welfare attitudes). This study also examines the association between political placement and welfare attitudes. Data from the European Social Survey (N = 37,743 in 20 countries) are analyzed using a two-level regression analysis. The findings indicate that individualism at the cultural culture is a significant factor in terms of individuals’ attitudes to welfare, in that the higher the level of individualism, the lesser the likelihood that the state’s welfare responsibility is supported. On the other hand, citizens’ attitudes towards state responsibility for welfare are associated with the political placement of those citizens. Politically, people leaning to the right have a lower degree of interest in the state’s welfare responsibility. Furthermore, the degree of individualism modifies the association at the individual level of political placement and welfare attitudes. There is a greater attitudinal difference between the supporters of right-wing and left-wing political views in individualistic countries than in collectivist countries. From a social policy perspective, this study emphasizes the association of individualism and welfare attitudes. The results suggest that social policy is based more on national cultural values than one might assume.

The focus of this study was on the question of whether or not children with a number of disabilities and long-term illnesses are at increased risk of child maltreatment (mental violence, disciplinary violence, and serious violence). This study was based on the Child Victim Survey of 2013 (FSD2943). The data consist of a nationally representative sample of pupils in Finland in sixth grade (12–13 years of age) and ninth grade (15–16 years of age). The sampling was undertaken as a stratified cluster by province, municipality type, and school size. The total number of respondents was 11,364. According to the logistic regression analyses, the children with at least three disabilities or long-term illnesses had an increased risk of violence compared with children with no disability: The risk of mental violence increased by 2.96 times, the risk of disciplinary violence by 4.30 times, and the risk of serious violence by 3.53 times. The effect of the category of at least three disabilities and illnesses remained statistically significant, although the analysis also accounted for several confounding factors. Thus, a child’s multiple morbidity (in the case of three or more disabilities and illnesses) can be categorized as one of the major risk factors for child maltreatment. The study complements the results of previous studies concerning the effect of children’s disabilities and long-term illnesses and their impact on child maltreatment. The results underline the importance of employees of health and social care having knowledge of multiple morbidity and its importance as a key factor regarding child maltreatment.

Purpose Community belongingness (CB) has been found to be positively associated with subjective well-being (SWB). Scholars have verified this connection with different social groups. In the present study, the authors are interested in the group of unemployed people and compare their situation to employed people. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to examine whether a sense of community belonging prevents negative impacts of unemployment on SWB. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on a survey conducted in 2016. The data consists of 830 respondents from which 723 had the labor market status (LMS) of employed people and 107 had the LMS of unemployed people. Findings The results of this study show that there are both positive and negative factors which support or weaken CB. Interpersonal trust supports the sense of community belonging of individuals, but loneliness weakens their CB. However, unemployed people have a lower rate of CB and SWB comparing to employed people. Furthermore, CB is positively associated with SWB, but this connection is conditional in order that a high rate of CB buffers the negative impacts of unemployment. Originality/value The study emphasizes the significance of CB as a basis of SWB. On the other hand, the negative impacts of unemployment can be mitigated by supporting integration of unemployed people into social communities. From a sociopolitical view, the results underline the fact that governmental measurements promote the social inclusion of unemployed people.

Background Children's disabilities and long-term illnesses (DLTIs) are a significant risk factor in the development of maltreatment. Objective The study is focused on the association of children's DLTIs with child maltreatment and poly-victimization perpetrated by parents. Participants and setting The study is based on a 2013 Child Victim Survey (N = 11,364), which is a cross-sectional survey. This nationally representative survey focused on the life situation of Finnish children aged 12–17 years, as well as on experiences of violence, crime, and bullying. Methods Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of children's DLTIs and child maltreatment. Results Poly-victimization played a significant role in child maltreatment. Children's hearing impairment (OR 5.68, 95% Cl 2.25–14.35), physical disability (OR 3.32, 95% Cl 1.61–6.88), and mental health problems (OR 4.37, 95% Cl 1.63–11.72) increased the odds of poly-victimization more than other forms of abuse. The situation was similar with both somatic diseases (OR 1.59, 95% Cl 1.14–2.21) and psychiatric illnesses (OR 2.12, 95% Cl 1.36–2.47) in children. Further, somatic and psychiatric multimorbidity in children increased the odds of poly-victimization (OR 4.17, 95% Cl 2.25–7.75) slightly more than risk of physical abuse (OR 3.57, 95% 1.11–11.49). As control variables, child's gender and age, the family financial situation, and the parent's intimate partner violence were adjusted in all of the analyses. Conclusion Clinical professionals should consider children's multimorbidity as a potential risk factor of maltreatment. The results of the study can be used to support families and children with DLTIs.

This study examines the relationship between the welfare state models and social political attitudes. The data are based on the sixth round of the European Social Survey. The study revealed a mechanism of how the relationship between concrete and abstract attitudes differs between the welfare states. In the Anglo-Saxon and Nordic welfare states the relationship is a positive one, which indicates that the welfare state has a broad support among citizens. In the Continental, Eastern and Southern welfare states the relationship is a negative one. This means that the less satisfied citizens are with governmental measures, the more positive their attitudes are regarding protecting citizens against poverty. Also the study showed that the welfare state model directly influences citizens’ concrete attitudes and indirectly influences abstract poverty attitudes. In this sense, the welfare state model is seen more as an attitudinal perception than an actual social policy.

Aim: The significance of welfare and health technology has been highlighted in recent years. However, employees’ attitudes towards welfare technology in substance abuse treatment have received little attention. This article examines employees’ readiness to introduce welfare technology in substance abuse treatment and their attitudes towards its use. Design: The theoretical framework of this study is based on Ajzen’s (1991, 2001) theory of planned behaviour, and the ongoing discussion about the adoption of new technology in healthcare. The research data (N = 129) were collected in the form of an electronic questionnaire in Finland in 2015. Results: The results are consistent with the theory of planned behaviour and previous studies on the acceptance of information systems in healthcare. Employees’ readiness to introduce new welfare technology applications and devices in substance abuse treatment is influenced by their personal appreciation of welfare technology, the expectations of their colleagues and supervisors, as well as their own perceptions of their capacity to learn to use the applications. Conclusions: The study found some links between demographic factors and cognitions related to welfare technology. In particular, employees with a healthcare background are more inclined to adopt the technology than other employees in substance abuse treatment. In addition, a person’s age has a negative relationship with their perceived technology management. However, age has no significant connection with attitudes and no direct independent effect on the readiness to introduce a new welfare technology. Lastly, the results show that previous positive experiences of welfare technology make it easier to introduce new technologies., published version, peerReviewed

The main aim of the study was to explore the association of outsourcing degree to the cost of institutional care in child welfare. There was no essential difference in cost when the municipalities had outsourced either almost none or all of their services. The highest costs were associated with the situation wherein about half of services were outsourced. However, the association depended on the sizes of municipalities. Among the big municipalities the highest costs were associated with the situation wherein about a quarter of services were outsourced. Among the small municipalities the association was similar to the whole data.

The study examines mental health service users’ learning processes regarding becoming “experts by experience.” The data consist of 12 audio-recorded interviews of mental health service users who took part in a specific training program regarding becoming experts by experience. The research methodology was based on a qualitative attitude approach, in which each interviewee is asked to respond to statements related to the research question. According to the study, the interviewees’ learning processes consist of individual and collective processes. The individual learning process helps a service user to create his or her identity as an expert by experience, and the collective learning process supports a service user in constructing the social role of such an expert. Throughout the learning processes, service users explored four different themes: creating distance from experiences, sharing experiences with peers and friends, combining experiences with existing competences, and developing an orientatio...

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine young people’s attitudes toward social welfare and their perceptions of who is responsible for providing social welfare benefits.Design/methodology/approach– Social welfare attitudes were examined related to three themes: government responsibility, trust in society, and individual responsibility. A sample of 725 students from 12 high and vocational schools in south Finland was used for analysis.Findings– The data suggest that young people have a high regard for the importance of the government’s role as a social support and a mechanism of social welfare for all citizens. In addition, the results show that women highlight government responsibility more than men, and that men highlight the individual’s own responsibility for social issues. According to the results, there is a weak relationship between cultural values and social welfare attitudes. Collective values relate positively to an emphasis on trust in government and government responsibility for social problems, and relate negatively to an emphasis on individuals’ personal responsibility.Originality/value– The study shows that the main principles of the welfare state are still accepted by the Finnish youth, although recent speculations about the future of welfare states.

Purpose – This paper aims to verify the positive impact of legislative changes aimed at decontrolling the market on the entrepreneurial process of new companies’ creation. The entrepreneurial process has been analysed in the context of innovation, risk and market opportunities, which represent the three main approaches to entrepreneurship theories. The analysis is focussed on the social service sector in Finland. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on an ex post facto research design. The data are based on official statistics and the data bank of legislation. The case of Finland is used as an example for explaining the determinants of new company creation. Findings – Legislative changes aimed at decontrolling the market seem to have a positive impact on the entrepreneurial process of new company creation. This influence is manifested in the form of market opportunities, risk bearing and the introduction of innovation. Of these three factors influencing the start-up process, the opportunities for market exploitation seem to have the greatest impact. In the Finnish social service sector, entrepreneurial opportunities are based on changes in the political structures that influence the market conditions. Entrepreneurs have also contributed to the opportunities by being active and innovative in filling any new gap in the market structures. Practical implications – These results might be useful in the debate on policies supporting entrepreneurship. The example of the Finnish social service sector indicates that political changes in market regulations are a very effective method of supporting the process of entrepreneurship. Originality/value – The paper is among the first to analyse both legislative changes and market changes affecting the entrepreneurial process, which indicates that the research is comprehensive. Second, legislative political actions to decontrol the market are a starting point in the discussion on the determinants of the entrepreneurial process. Third, the contribution of legislative changes in terms of market opportunities, innovation and risk bearing as avenues of influence on the entrepreneurial process is analysed.

Social Casework has been criticized for its exaggerated reliance on psychological theory during the 1920s — it has been especially said that the Freudian theory has had a tremendous influence on the development of casework (Dore, 1990, pp. 359-360; Jiminez, 1990, p. 6; Courtney, 1992, pp. 201-202; Levy Simon, 1994, pp. 123-124). The idea of the psychoanalytical turnabout has been so strong that hardly any attention has been paid to opposing or clarifying views (see Alexander, 1972), at the same time only scant attention has been paid to the traditions of sociological casework. I shall try to show that there were both sociological and psychological discourses during that time.

In this study, we analyze youngpeople’sattitudes towards entrepreneurship in theHelsinki-Uusimaa region of Finland.First, ourtheoretical framework links withattitude research, in particular, Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. Our secondperspective derives from the theory of representations. Third, our analysis is basedon discussionsofthe welfare state and democratic values. We ask what socialpsychological factors explain young people’s entrepreneurial intentions. Surveydata (N=873)was collected in electronic formatfromsecondary and vocationalschools. The questions were mainly multiple choiceLikert-scalequestions. Theanalysis was undertaken using simple statistical methods. Our results demonstratethat the relationship betweensocial values, representations concerningentrepreneurship,and entrepreneurial intention is complex in the Finnish context.Whilewe further argue thatthetheory of planned behavior is valid in thisinstance, the representations and social values serve to explain entrepreneurialintentiononly weakly.