The ecological crisis is a crucial issue also for social work. The ecosocial approach provides social work a way towards a sustainable society. It highlights the interdependence of the wellbeing of humans and the environment.
This dissertation explores the views of social welfare professionals regarding the significance of environmental issues and the ecosocial approach in social work. In addition, this study considers the conditions of social work engagement in the transition towards a sustainable society. The data consists of survey responses of 542 professionals, collected via Talentia in 2020. In addition, results from an Australian survey in 2022 are used.
The results indicated that most perceive the natural environment and environmental issues as important from both in personal life and in social work. Still, the ecosocial practices are not common in social work. The environmental issues and the support for applying the ecosocial approach in one’s work were not prominent in the respondents’ organisations. The dissonance between the perceived importance of addressing environmental issues and the lack of practices promoting sustainability was a central finding of the study.
The survey results indicated that, based on social welfare professionals’ perspectives, no profound, encompassing change or transition was currently ongoing. Examining the boundary conditions of social work professionals to engage in ecosocial practice implies that not just the practices but the principles behind those practices need to change.
YTM Taija Nöjd defends their doctoral dissertation in social work "Exploring social welfare professionals’ views on the ecosocial approach in social work". Opponent is research manager, VTT Paula Saikkonen (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare) and custos is professor Kati Närhi. Language of the event is Finnish.
Additional information:
Taija Nöjd, taija.k.nojd@student.jyu.fi
The dissertation is available in the JYX archive.
The event will be streamed live online: link
