Journal of Social Work Research

Abstract Cancer is a distressing and difficult experience for women. Despite the numerous challenges posed by this disease, especially for married women, few studies have examined these challenges. The present study was conducted with the aim of explaining the challenges experienced by women with female cancers, using a qualitative method and thematic analysis technique. The study began in December 1402 and data collection and study lasted until June 1403. Purposeful sampling was conducted on 24 married women with female cancers living in Qom; participants were aged 20 to 65 years.
In total, 9 main categories and 33 sub-themes were identified, and the final theme of “multifaceted dysfunction” was extracted as a summary of the participants’ lived experiences. The main themes in the first stage were the initial painful encounter with the disease; In the treatment phase, the threat to the role of wife, mental turmoil, emotional vulnerability, decreased family support, structured limitation of services, quality of service provided by the medical staff; and in the post-treatment phase, the threat to the role of wife-motherhood, psychological and material anxiety of the disease returning. The results showed that married women with female cancers face various challenges from the moment they are informed of the disease until after treatment. Understanding these challenges can provide a proper understanding of the issues of this group of women at each stage so that specialists, in addition to medical treatments, can design more effective and comprehensive assistance programs to improve their health status in all aspects.

Abstract The continuity and development of any science depends on the research that is done in that field. Stagnation in research in a scientific field paves the way for stagnation in that field of knowledge, and dynamism in research guarantees the development of that science and the growth of its scholars. Therefore, in order to be aware of the position of a scientific discipline in the current situation, what process it has gone through so far and what is its perspective, it needs to do some Internal analysis. To achieve this, the sum of research conducted in a scientific field should be recognized as the subject or domain for an independent critical research. The present research is an attempt has been made to critically examine the academic research conducted in the field of social work in Iran during five decades of the research life of this field. However, in conducting such research, not only these considerations have been satisfied, but also a redoubled effort has been made to investigate the thematic relationship of the laws passed with this discipline in the framework of an institutional relationship. Quantitative content analysis method has been used to examine both areas. In applying this method, 645 academic researches and 169 legal documents have been used as valid sources of data collection. Among the findings of this study, we can mention the relationship between the institution of science and the institution of legislation, which has experienced convergences and divergences during the period under review.

Abstract Studies in Iran show that despite the country's appropriate ranking in knowledge production, this capacity is not used in the national interest. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of explaining and scrutinizing the current situation of the effectiveness of social work research and strategies to improve this effectiveness.
This research was conducted qualitatively and the required data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews with experts. A total of 10 individual interviews and one group interview were analyzed. The sampling method of the interviewees was targeted. The findings of the present study, according to experts, show that despite some valuable examples, the effectiveness of research is far from the expected level. Research effectiveness has been low. Therefore, it is appropriate for policy makers, also managers, and other responsibles in both sectors to take action to eliminate or reduce obstacles. Relevant policy recommendations have been provided in this regard.

Abstract Abstract Social network types are a composite describing the interpersonal milieu and can be used for examination of the health and well-being of the population. This study tries to identify different types of social network used by retired elderly individuals and to compare their health when using the different identified network types. This study used a survey method. The SF-12 questionnaire (a shortened form of the SF-36 questionnaire) and a checklist of structural and interactional characteristics were used for gathering data.  Collected through convenient sampling, the study sample consisted of 230 retired elderly individuals, aged over 60 who were members of the Civic Retiree Center and Educational Retiree Center of Karaj. The K-means cluster analysis was used for derivation of social network types and a One-Way ANNOVA was adopted for comparing health among the groups. Four types of social networks were identified among older adults: diverse, family-focused, kin-focused and friend-focused. Respondents who belonged to diverse network had the highest health (physical and mental) scores and those with a more family-focused network had the lowest health score. Comparisons showed that the elderly individuals embedded in diverse and kin-focused networks had significantly higher health scores than those with a more family-focused network. Considering the importance of the individual in the environment perspective in social work, social network typology can give social workers a good assessment framework for understanding the health status of retired adults. Keywords: Health, Social Network, Typology, Elderly Individuals

Abstract The plan for organizing street children as a part of Welfare organization efforts has been in progress for more than a decade. Understanding the effects of this plan with a comprehensive look at its challenges is the goal of this study.This qualitative research was conducted in 2016. The study population was managers, experts, educators, children and caregivers in 4 provinces of Tehran, Semnan, Kurdistan and Sistan and Baluchestan. Through purposive sampling, a sample of 124 people was interviewed and data were analyzed by thematic analysis method. A total of 11 main themes, 28 sub themes and 79 concepts were extracted. Two main themes including deficiencies of the plan and complicated charactersitics of the street children problem exceeding the possibilities of the plan were the intrinsic challenges of the plan and main concepts of irresponsible organizational and infrastructural views, shortage of budget, techniques and skills, problems of workforce and synergy of problems and insufficient services were plan’s operational challenges. Under the effects of these challenges, the plan had different outcomes. The main themes about effects were continuity of working as a response to problems of family ,education and environment, better parents-child relations because of fear of center, difficulties of parenting and intertwinded feeling of imprisonment and happiness.overall the plan faced many intrinsic and operational challenges that lead to inadequate implementation of it. It has been successful in chaging the custody of some children, but it is not good enough at reducing working rate and increasing school attandence of street children.

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