A bicultural model of social work with immigrants: Professional interventions, acculturation orientations, and burnout of social workers

Abstract

Summary In the present study, we developed a bicultural model of social work with immigrants consisting of professional interventions rooted in the dominant and the immigrant cultures. We further developed scales measuring the two types of interventions and investigated their connections with acculturation orientations and burnout of social workers working with immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) in Israel. The study was cross-sectional. The sample included 313 social workers, 254 Israeli-born and 59 born in the FSU. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings In their work with immigrants, social workers equally used interventions rooted in the immigrant and the dominant cultures, and the two types of interventions were complimentary. Stronger adherence to the acculturation orientation related to preserving the immigrant culture was associated with more frequent use of interventions rooted in the immigrant culture. In addition, more frequent interventions rooted in the immigrant culture were associated with a higher level of personal accomplishment. On the other hand, more frequent use of interventions rooted in the dominant culture was associated with a higher level of burnout. Immigrant social workers reported a higher level of personal accomplishment but also a higher level of burnout than their colleagues belonging to the dominant group. Applications The main conclusion of the present study relates to the importance of accepting the immigrant culture and learning to effectively apply professional interventions rooted in both the immigrant and the dominant cultures in social work with immigrants.