The objective of this study was to analyze the experiences of returning to work of women who had overcome breast cancer, identifying its physical and psychological consequences, the process they underwent, their motivations, and difficulties. A total of 19 female breast cancer survivors, with an age range of 30 to 57 years, participated in two focus groups. A semi-structured script was prepared about their experiences of returning to work. The results indicated that survivors’ self-perception was weakened by the physical and psychological consequences of the treatment of the disease; economic difficulties were one of the main reasons for going back to work; lastly, returning to work was a difficult process, mainly because of their physical/psychological limitations, the scarcity of job adaptation measures, and the limited support of the various public administrations. In addition, most of the women had to cope with seeking a new job without any guidance or job training. Significant difficulties related to the maintenance and return to work of female breast cancer survivors have been revealed. Findings highlighted the need to provide more and better information and guidance to cancer patients concerning their return to work or the search for a new job.

The treatment of the mentally ill people is a challenge across the world, and different professionals, such as doctors, social workers, psychologists, or nurses, take care of this group. Nonetheless, mental health is not a vocational sector preferred by students and professionals of many of these careers. Research has proposed that professional preference for a patient group would be positively influenced by intergroup contact (quantity and quality) and empathy (perspective‐taking), and negatively associated with intergroup anxiety and social distance. However, the evidence testing this proposal was partial and mainly referring to other patient groups such as minorities or immigrants. The major aim of this cross‐sectional study was to clarify two research questions referring to mentally ill persons: Do contact and empathy protect undergraduates from intergroup anxiety and social distance and promote professional preference? Do intergroup anxiety and social distance predict professional preference and mediate the influence of contact and empathy in professional preference? A convenience sample of 409 Social Work undergraduates (81% females) from three Spanish universities completed a questionnaire between February and June 2020. Concerning direct relationships, the structural equation model showed that the quantity of contact only predicted intergroup anxiety negatively; quality of contact and empathy negatively predicted intergroup anxiety and social distance; intergroup anxiety positively predicted social distance; intergroup anxiety and social distance negatively predicted professional preference. Concerning mediated relationships, the influence of quality of contact and empathy on social distance was mediated by intergroup anxiety; social distance mediated the relationship of intergroup anxiety with professional preference; both anxiety and distance mediated the influence of quality of contact and empathy in professional preference. These results encourage interventions aimed at enhancing professional preference for mental illness by improving contact, knowledge, and empathy and reducing stigma in students and workers from diverse mental health careers.

The objectives of this study were to determine and to expose the morphology of polyamorous relationships through their conception and characteristics, identifying experienced and perceived situations of discrimination, and to analyze the future expectations for polyamorous relationships. For this purpose, 11 people who were in a polyamorous relationship, with an age ranging from 26 to 57 years, were interviewed. The results show that polyamorous people define their relationships as casual, without possession, a lifestyle that includes friendship, trust, affection, and sex. The success of this type of relationship depends on freedom, respect for each other’s spaces, flexibility of roles, and sharing household expenses and responsibilities. All participants claimed to experience and perceive discrimination by their environment and society. Among their expectations for the future is continuing the relationship, even considering reproduction. Such relationships represent a breakdown of the monogamous society. Poliamory poses many challenges in an attempt to legitimize the diversity of relationships and environments of coexistence in our society.

This article presents the perception of professional experts and adolescents from West Africa on their migration process and their passage through Spain as they head toward Europe. Its objectives are 1) identify the reasons to migrate, 2) analyze family’s influence on decision-making, and 3) point out the factors conditioning the migration process. Qualitative techniques such as a life story, a panel of professional experts, Delphi, and SWOT were used. The results further deepen into the scarcity of the families’ financial resources, the adult status that adolescents originally receive, low income, and low qualification as main motivationsfor migrating. In conclusion, thistype of migration isidentified and built on the same parameters as adults. Different perceptions were found between adolescents and professionals regarding remittances and family influence to migrate. As implications for the practice, it was identified the importance of specializing the protection system professionals who attend the needs of young migrants.

This article presents the characteristics of the impact of the financial cutbacks implemented by the Spanish neoliberal government after the onset of the 2008 financial crisis on families. In this context, the results are obtained from 22 interviews and 35 questionnaires submitted to all social workers in the province’s community social services. These results corroborate that cutbacks have had a high impact on families, both for individual family members and for the family typology itself.

Resumen En el presente trabajo se analizan los beneficios de un programa grupal de tratamiento no farmacológico realizado por la Asociación Española contra el Cáncer en Galicia (España). Se analizaron 14 ediciones del programa en las que participaron 361 mujeres con cáncer de edades comprendidas entre los 33 y los 82 años. Se adoptó un diseño descriptivo de carácter etnográfico triangulando las técnicas de análisis y las fuentes de recogida de datos por medio de un cuestionario de satisfacción, 32 entrevistas en profundidad y un grupo de discusión con profesionales. Los resultados apoyan la idea de que el programa grupal analizado ha conseguido un elevado grado de satisfacción entre las mujeres participantes en todas las ediciones, ha favorecido la aceptación y el afrontamiento positivo de la enfermedad, aumentado los conocimientos y las habilidades para resolver los problemas relacionados con el proceso, así como promovido las relaciones sociales, la participación en la comunidad y el apoyo social. Desde el punto de vista práctico y profesional, nuestro estudio evidencia la importancia de diseñar e implementar programas grupales desde el ámbito psicosocial y con carácter interdisciplinar que permitan mejorar las estrategias de afrontamiento y el apoyo en poblaciones de mujeres diagnosticadas de cáncer.

Dificultades sociales y educativas de los niños y niñas con cáncer y sus familias. Una visión desde el trabajo social en Oncología Pediátrica de GaliciaSocial and educational problems of children with cancer and their families. A view from Galician Pediatric Oncology Social Workers. Francisco Xabier Aguiar Fernández, Andrea Pazos Baña Universidade de Vigo ResumenLa hospitalización es una de las principales fuentes de estrés de los niños y niñas diagnosticados de cáncer debido a la ruptura forzada con el ambiente familiar y escolar. En esta comunicación nos proponemos identificar los factores sociales presentes y su interrelación con el proceso educativo. Se ha realizado una investigación de tipo cualitativo mediante la técnica de la entrevista a trabajadoras sociales de los Servicios de Oncología Pediátrica de Galicia y a miembros del movimiento asociativo. Los resultados muestran una escasez de recursos de atención social y de apoyo al seguimiento escolar y educativo. Palabras clave: cáncer, pediatría, trabajo social, educación, derechos AbstractHospitalization is one of the main sources of stress for children diagnosed with cancer due to forced rupture with the family and school environment. In this paper we intend to identify the social factors present and their interrelation with the educational process. A qualitative research has been carried out using the technique of interviewing social workers of the Pediatric Oncology Services of Galicia and members of the associative movement. The results show a shortage of resources for social care and support for school and educational monitoring. Keywords: Cancer, pediatrics, social work, education, rights Introducción El cáncer y sus tratamientos suponen un acontecimiento traumático y estresante para los/las niños/as y sus familias. Durante el curso de la enfermedad se exponen a situaciones potencialmente estresantes como la amenaza para la vida o la integridad física, procedimientos médicos invasivos y dolorosos, importantes efectos secundarios derivados de los tratamientos, cambios físicos y funcionales, frecuentes hospitalizaciones, alteración de la rutina cotidiana y de la dinámica familiar, social y escolar (Bragado, 2009;Palomo, 1999). Asimismo, el/la niño/a se enfrenta a diversas emociones como la soledad, el miedo, la ira, la ansiedad y la depresión. El nivel de desarrollo del niño/a determina la naturaleza del impacto emocional y las habilidades que usará para afrontar el cáncer (Baquero y Ibáñez, 2009; Espada, López-Roig, Méndez y Orgilés, 2004). Por lo tanto, su vida y la dinámica familiar se transforman bruscamente, iniciándose un nuevo período de adaptación a personas, situaciones y ambientes desconocidos. Sin embargo, no hay que olvidar que el cáncer es un hecho circunstancial en la vida del niño/a y que éste continúa con su proceso madurativo y evolutivo, por lo que resulta relevante la integración de la enfermedad en su vida normal y en la de su familia (López-Ibor, 2009).La familia influencia en gran medida el impacto y el ajuste de la infancia al ...

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