Author biographies: 1 Selwyn Stanley has been a social work educator for more than three decades and has published extensively in areas relating to impact of alcohol misuse on the family, social work education and professional practice. 2 Mettilda, G.B., has been a social work educator for 22 years and her research interests are in mental health, gender and women studies, ageing and family dynamics 3 Meenakshi, A., is a PhD student of Social Work, Cauvery College for Women, India. Her area of specialisation is Medical and Psychiatric social work Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest.

Summary This study explored the manifestation of reflective ability, emotional intelligence and empathy in 120 women social workers in Tiruchirappalli, India. A cross-sectional quantitative design was used and the Emotional Intelligence Scale, Groningen Reflective Ability Scale and the Empathy Assessment Index were administered to assess the manifestation of these dimensions. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors of empathy. Findings Based on mean scores, the majority of respondents were classified as being ‘high’ in terms of emotional intelligence and reflective ability. Respondents of different age groups showed a significant difference in terms of the manifestation of empathy. Age, self-reflection and appraisal and expression of emotions were extracted as significant predictors of empathy. Application The article discusses the importance of these professional attributes for effective practice and the role of academic institutions and social work organisations in fostering the development of these dimensions in social work practitioners.

Stress among social work students is an issue of concern and has adverse outcomes. This study used a longitudinal design to assess stress, resilience and coping in undergraduate social work students in India and a comparative cohort of non-social work undergraduates. Standardised instruments were administered at three time points: the first on course entry, then in the second year of study and finally on the verge of course completion at the end of three years. Moderate levels of stress and resilience were seen in the social work cohort, but no incremental progression in their manifestation was observed as students progressed through their degree. Stress, problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies emerged as significant predictors of resilience. The findings indicate a need to develop resilience in social work students to enable them deal more effectively with various stressors.

The use of media device, such as smartphone and tablet, is currently increasing, especially among the youngest because adolescents often feel the necessity to use a media device as a means to construct a social identity and express themselves. For some children, smartphone ownership starts even sooner as young as 7 yrs, according to internet safety experts. (Elena Bozzola et al., 2019) The unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of several other problems, one related to social media. For many people, social media has become a lifeline to the outside world, particularly as they seek ways to stay connected and entertained( Arushi Bidhuri, 2022).Especially Adolescents spend more and more time with their smartphones consulting social media, mainly Facebook, Instagram and Twitter(Elena Bozzola., et.al.,2019).   Researchers discovered that, whether there is physical separation (social-distancing) due to COVID-19, adolescents use social media to connect and support one another. The majority of teens and tweens believe that social media improves social-emotional well-being by increasing congruence.