Factors that affect the empathy constructs among a sample of clinical social workers in Kuwait

Abstract

Empathy is an important tool that clinical social workers use during their interventions with clients. This study aims to explore the knowledge base on empathy among clinical social workers in Kuwait. It investigates the relationship between empathy and three constructs and some demographic variables. The sample (N = 527) consisted of clinical social workers practicing in Kuwait. The findings revealed significant relationships (1) between empathy, compassionate contextual assessment, intrinsic help and emotional support, and gender; (2) between empathy, compassionate contextual assessment, and participants’ majors in college; and (3) between empathy, intrinsic help and emotional support, and participants’ income.

Research on Social Work Practice in Egypt and the Arab World

“…It also discovered that a statistically significant negative relationship between acculturation and contact with Arab culture and people. The relationship between of acculturation and educational level was not statistically significant (Al-Ma’seb, 2006).…”

“…In reviewing doctoral dissertations from the years 1990 to 2010 granted to Arab doctoral students in Western Universities, none involved an experimental manipulation or a social work intervention, program, or practice (Al-Ajlan, 2000; Al-Baher, 1997; Albar, 2009; Albrithen, 2006; Al-Dulaimi, 1990; Al-Kaabi, 2004; Al-Makhamreh, 2005; Al-Mannai, 2006; Al-Ma’seb, 2006; Al saif, 1991; El-Taiba, 2007; Ibrahim, 2010; Saleh, 1994). These Western universities indicated that two American universities with Arab graduates are Florida State University (Al saif, 1991) and Ohio State University (Al-Baher, 1997; Al-Ma’seb, 2006).…”

“…In reviewing doctoral dissertations from the years 1990 to 2010 granted to Arab doctoral students in Western Universities, none involved an experimental manipulation or a social work intervention, program, or practice (Al-Ajlan, 2000; Al-Baher, 1997; Albar, 2009; Albrithen, 2006; Al-Dulaimi, 1990; Al-Kaabi, 2004; Al-Makhamreh, 2005; Al-Mannai, 2006; Al-Ma’seb, 2006; Al saif, 1991; El-Taiba, 2007; Ibrahim, 2010; Saleh, 1994). These Western universities indicated that two American universities with Arab graduates are Florida State University (Al saif, 1991) and Ohio State University (Al-Baher, 1997; Al-Ma’seb, 2006). Seven British universities with Arab doctoral graduates are University of East Anglia (Ibrahim, 2010), University of Exeter (Al-Dulaimi, 1990), University of York (Albar, 2009), University of Kent at Canterbury (Saleh, 1994), University of Warwick (Al-Makhamreh, 2005), The University of Hull (Al-Ajlan, 2000), and the University of Liverpool (Albrithen, 2006).…”

“…Finally, the lone Kuwaiti social work doctoral student conducted research using a descriptive and exploratory method (Al-Ma’seb, 2006). The objective of this research was to discover the impact of specific identified factors of Arab women stay in Columbus, Ohio, the United States, on their acculturation process.…”

“…However, differences within Arabic culture have existed between those from urban versus rural areas (Hammad et al, 1999). Although the Arab American people have been scattered in all 50 U.S. states, the largest Arab American minority has been concentrated on two U.S. states: Ohio and Michigan (Al-Ma’seb, 2006; Hammad et al, 1999). Arab American refers to those individuals whose ancestors arrived from Arab-speaking countries.…”