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Self-Care Practice and Retention: Narratives of Social Workers in China

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  • Yangyong Zhang

Abstract

Despite the growing importance of self-care in the retention of social workers, its practice has been rarely studied. This study investigated the self-care strategies utilized by social workers to enhance retention in China. This study comprised individual in-depth interviews with 49 experienced social workers and three focus group discussions. Findings showed that five categories of personal self-care strategies and six categories of professional self-care strategies were identified. Emphases on self-care practice differed at three distinct career stages, frontline social workers, project officers or managers, and organizational managers. Self-care practice was revealed as indispensable for social workers’ retention in China, identifying distinct Chinese characteristics and highlighting the global nature of the ecological perspective of self-care. The study discusses the implications for social workers, educators, social services organizations, government, and the public.

Suggested Citation

  • Yangyong Zhang, 2023. "Self-Care Practice and Retention: Narratives of Social Workers in China," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:13:y:2023:i:3:p:21582440231197318
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440231197318
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yean Wang & Huan Zhang & Jie Lei & Yuehui Yu, 2019. "Burnout in Chinese social work: Differential predictability of the components of the Maslach Burnout Inventory," International Journal of Social Welfare, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(2), pages 217-228, April.
    2. Jar-Der Luo & Yung-Chu Yeh, 2012. "Neither collectivism nor individualism: Trust in the Chinese guanxi circle," Journal of Trust Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(1), pages 53-70, April.
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