The likelihood of seeking help from social workers in Israel: Effect of gender, religiosity and prior experience of receiving professional help from social workers

Abstract

This study was conducted in Israel. It shows that women, religious people and those with prior experience of receiving professional help from social workers have a higher likelihood of seeking help from social workers than men, non-religious people and those who have never received professional help from social workers (respectively). The conclusion of the research is that social workers must be aware of population groups who have a lower likelihood of seeking their help, and must act to promote education among these groups concerning the roles of social workers and the significance of seeking professional help.

Self-Reported Likelihood of Seeking Social Worker Help Among Older Men in Israel

“…Studies indicate that past experiences of help-seeking (such as psychological help) have a significant effect on the likelihood of seeking such help in the future ( Gonzalez, Alegria, & Prihoda, 2005 ; Rickwood et al, 2005 ). It was identified that most of those who had prior experience with social workers remained satisfied with the services they received, and also had more knowledge and less uncertainty about the process of receiving social workers’ help, and accordingly reported a higher likelihood of seeking their help in the future ( Kagan & Zychlinski, 2017 ).…”

Public perception of social workers as a source for providing help during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Studies on the association between gender and seeking both general and professional help, indicate that women are more willing to seek help and do so in practice more than men ( Andersson et al, 2013 ; Baum, 2006 ). Also, studies that relate specifically to SWs show that women have more positive attitudes towards them ( Kagan, 2016 ) and report a greater likelihood of seeking their help than do men ( Kagan & Zychlinski, 2016 , 2017 ). The studies ascribe this to women's higher ability to identify and recognize their predicaments and their need for help, higher readiness for emotional self-exposure, and greater social legitimization for seeking help ( Dahle, 2012 ; Mackenzie et al, 2006 ).…”

“…The studies portray an ambivalent picture of the association between age and seeking the help of helping and caring professionals in general and SWs in particular (i.e., Andersson et al, 2013 ; Kagan & Zychlinski, 2016 , 2017 ; Segal et al, 2005 ; Sirey et al, 2001 ). Some show a positive association between these variables since older people might contend with more issues that require professional help (for instance, with regard to physical or mental functioning) ( Kagan & Zychlinski, 2016 , 2017 ).…”

“…Studies conducted on this subject in Israel, where the current study was carried out, show that fairly high proportions of the respondents reported a very low likelihood, or no likelihood at all, of seeking help from SWs. For instance, in two studies among the general population in Israel ( Kagan & Zychlinski, 2016 , 2017 ), such statements were made by 37.7% and 32.1% of the respondents, respectively, while among people with physical disabilities the proportion was 35% ( Kagan et al, 2017 ) and among older men 39% ( Kagan et al, 2018 ).…”

“…The studies indicate a long list of barriers to seeking professional help. Some of the studies relate to the individual's sociodemographic background, such as gender, age, religiosity, education, relationship status, and ethnicity ( Andersson et al, 2013 ; Baum, 2006 ; Kagan & Zychlinski, 2017 ; Kagan et al, 2018 ; Kessler et al., 2005 ; Mackenzie et al, 2006 ). Barriers may include perceptions and experiences associated with seeking help, such as the perception that people could and should solve their problems on their own, the concern of self-exposure and of negative labeling ( Chen, 2012 ), lack of knowledge about whom to contact, where, and how, concerns of the costs involved ( Andersson et al, 2013 ; Chen, 2012 ), low confidence in the effectiveness of professional help, unsympathetic views of professionals, low trust in them ( Bolgun & Sahin, 2019 ; Kagan, 2016 ), and lack of prior experience with them ( Segal et al, 2005 ).…”