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Nilsson, K., Nordfeldt, M. & Landstedt, E. (2025). Social Workers’ Experiences of Public Perceptions of the Social Work Profession: An Exploratory Study. SAGE Open, 15(1)
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Social Workers’ Experiences of Public Perceptions of the Social Work Profession: An Exploratory Study
2025 (English)In: SAGE Open, E-ISSN 2158-2440, Vol. 15, no 1Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Public perceptions play a crucial role in shaping the image of any profession, and social work is no exception. It is widely assumed that adverse public views of social work can negatively impact the legitimacy of social services and the well-being of social workers—ultimately threatening efficiency and retention. Yet, empirical studies addressing these assumptions are rare. The current study investigates social workers’ experiences of public perceptions of the social work profession and key factors contributing to public views. Focus groups with Swedish social workers were conducted, and data were analysed via qualitative content analysis. The dirty work framework was applied in interpreting the findings. The analysis revealed that adverse public views are experienced as prevalent and that organisational structures, legislation, and social work practice contribute to such views. However, media portrayals are seen as the most influential factor in establishing adverse public views. Based on the social workers’ experiences, it is concluded that the social services in Sweden can be understood as socially and morally tainted, but that levels of taint differ between social services areas, and efforts to reduce such taint are discussed. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Sage Publications, 2025
Keywords
Social work, public perceptions, public views, child welfare, dirty work
National Category
Social Work
Research subject
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-102825 (URN)10.1177/21582440251313655 (DOI)001395919400001 ()2-s2.0-85215512633 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2025-01-27 Created: 2025-01-27 Last updated: 2025-02-17Bibliographically approved
Persdotter, B., Landstedt, E. & Hellfeldt, K. (2024). Detection of children at risk of maltreatment: longitudinal understanding of teachers’ concern for children’s home situation in Sweden. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 32(2), 266-280
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Detection of children at risk of maltreatment: longitudinal understanding of teachers’ concern for children’s home situation in Sweden
2024 (English)In: European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, ISSN 1350-293X, E-ISSN 1752-1807, Vol. 32, no 2, p. 266-280Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Teachers in preschools and schools have a central role in detecting children at risk of maltreatment. The aim of this study was to provide a longitudinal understanding of teachers’ temporary and prolonged concerns for children's home situations (CCHS), from preschool (age 3–5 years) to year 1–3 of elementary school (age 8–10 years). Teacher- and parent reports from an ongoing prospective longitudinal study was used (baseline n = 2,113; 5-year follow-up n = 1,829). The study applied the bio-ecological systems framework by assessing how teachers’ CCHS were associated with person-, process-, and context-related factors. Both temporary and prolonged CCHS were primarily associated with teachers’ concern for different aspects of the children’s development, poor contact with parents and low parental SES, while school-related factors were less prominent. The longitudinal pattern indicates three risk levels and highlights the importance of the contact between teachers and parents in understanding when CCHS arises, ceases, or persists over time. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2024
Keywords
Children at risk of maltreatment, detection, prevention, teachers’ concern
National Category
Social Work
Research subject
Social Work; Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-96590 (URN)10.1080/1350293X.2023.2248428 (DOI)001053471300001 ()2-s2.0-85168703817 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2023-09-04 Created: 2023-09-04 Last updated: 2024-04-16Bibliographically approved
Atusingwize, E., Nilsson, M., Sjolander, A. E., Tumwesigye, N. M., Musoke, D. & Landstedt, E. (2024). Exploring links-exposure to alcohol adverts on social media in relation to alcohol use among university students in Uganda. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 60(1), Article ID agae081.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Exploring links-exposure to alcohol adverts on social media in relation to alcohol use among university students in Uganda
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2024 (English)In: Alcohol and Alcoholism, ISSN 0735-0414, E-ISSN 1464-3502, Vol. 60, no 1, article id agae081Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Aim This study assessed the association between exposure to alcohol adverts on social media and alcohol use among university students in Uganda since alcohol consumption has severe effects, especially in countries with weak regulations for alcohol marketing.Methods In total, 996 undergraduate students at Makerere University responded to a questionnaire assessing exposure to alcohol advertising on social media (independent variable) and alcohol use (dependent variable). Adjusted multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse data.Results One in ten students reported hazardous drinking, while three in ten students were low-risk drinkers. Most students (70.1%) reported low exposure to alcohol adverts on social media, followed by high exposure (12.1%), and 17.8% reported no exposure. A key finding was that exposure to alcohol adverts on social media was significantly associated with alcohol use, especially the high exposure and hazardous drinking (odds ratio = 12.62, 95% confidence interval: 4.43-35.96). Students reporting high exposure to alcohol adverts on social media also had higher odds of low-risk drinking (odds ratio = 3.70, 95% confidence interval: 1.88-7.27) than those with low exposure (odds ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-2.87), in reference to no exposure.Conclusion Among Ugandan university students, exposure to alcohol adverts on social media is common and associated with alcohol use, in a dose-response manner. These findings suggest a need for a design and implementation of alcohol interventions for students using social media. Short Summary: Forty percent of students reported using alcohol, including hazardous alcohol drinking (10%). Most students were exposed to alcohol adverts on social media to some degree (low exposure, 70.1%; and high exposure, 12.1%). The exposure to alcohol adverts on social media was significantly associated with alcohol use. The association was strong for high exposure in relation to hazardous drinking.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Oxford University Press, 2024
Keywords
alcohol use, social media, alcohol marketing, alcohol advert, university students, Uganda
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology Drug Abuse and Addiction
Research subject
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-102547 (URN)10.1093/alcalc/agae081 (DOI)001373042800001 ()39656669 (PubMedID)
Available from: 2024-12-23 Created: 2024-12-23 Last updated: 2025-02-11Bibliographically approved
Nilsson, K., Egan Sjolander, A. & Landstedt, E. (2023). No clear connections: a study of the association between news media use, public trust, and Swedish social services. European Journal of Social Work
Open this publication in new window or tab >>No clear connections: a study of the association between news media use, public trust, and Swedish social services
2023 (English)In: European Journal of Social Work, ISSN 1369-1457, E-ISSN 1468-2664Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]

News and media reports on social work have had policy and legislative consequences for social work practice in Sweden. Generally, it is often argued that media reports have negative implications for public perception and public trust towards social services. However, empirical studies supporting such claims are rare. Going back to the classic theory of cultivation regarding media effects, this study investigates possible associations between news media use, public trust in news, and public trust towards social services in Sweden. Analyses are based on survey data from a representative sample of Swedish adults and young adults (n = 1 697) and linear regressions have been applied. In contrast to assumptions in the existing literature, no associations were identified between the level of news use, preferred news outlet and public trust towards the social services, whereas trust in news predicted trust in social services. The findings challenge dominating notions on the implications of news media use and public trust in social services. In short, news reports of the social services do not simply translate into public (dis)trust. This also enable, linear regressions has been applied. In contrast to assumptions in existing literature, no associations.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Routledge, 2023
Keywords
Social services, social work, news media, public trust
National Category
Social Work
Research subject
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-97380 (URN)10.1080/13691457.2023.2266588 (DOI)001084627300001 ()2-s2.0-85173841361 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2023-11-15 Created: 2023-11-15 Last updated: 2025-01-28Bibliographically approved
Gotfredsen, A. C., Enlund, D., Goicolea, I. & Landstedt, E. (2022). Precarious leisure in a teenage wasteland?: Intertwining discourses on responsibility and girls' place-making in rural Northern Sweden. Journal of Youth Studies, 25(10), 1350-1366
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Precarious leisure in a teenage wasteland?: Intertwining discourses on responsibility and girls' place-making in rural Northern Sweden
2022 (English)In: Journal of Youth Studies, ISSN 1367-6261, E-ISSN 1469-9680, Vol. 25, no 10, p. 1350-1366Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The relationship with place has been recognized as a significant dimension of rural youth leisure, both through the discursive constructions of place, but also as affective and embodied dimensions. This study captures these processes by applying the concept of place-making as a set of recurrent discursive processes, analyzing how girls in Northern Sweden engage in place-making alongside, beyond, and in contrast to dominant discourses on leisure, rurality and wellbeing. The study draws on data from photo-elicited focus groups with girls from two sports organizations. The discursive psychology analysis resulted in three interpretative repertoires. The first repertoire describes the sharp contrast between discourses of the 'rural dull' and how stressful the participants constructed their own places of leisure. The second illustrates the gendered discourses around what is considered to be productive and respectable leisure. The third shows how the participants are made responsible for the survival of their leisure. Through place-making, the participants shape places of leisure, affecting both themselves and their rural community. They engage in, conform to, and challenge place-making within discourses of responsibility and precariousness, creating space for their own initiatives, which are simultaneously shaped by the material conditions under which these practices take place.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2022
Keywords
Leisure, rurality, youth, place-making, gender, wellbeing
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology Gender Studies Social Work
Research subject
Public Health Science; Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-85572 (URN)10.1080/13676261.2021.1957086 (DOI)000677994300001 ()2-s2.0-85111643497 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2021-08-05 Created: 2021-08-05 Last updated: 2023-02-02Bibliographically approved
Nilsson, K. & Landstedt, E. (2022). Public trust of social workers in Sweden: A repeated cross-sectional study. Journal of Social Work, 22(6), 1374-1393
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Public trust of social workers in Sweden: A repeated cross-sectional study
2022 (English)In: Journal of Social Work, ISSN 1468-0173, E-ISSN 1741-296X, Vol. 22, no 6, p. 1374-1393Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Public trust towards social workers is essential for legitimacy and accessibility of the social services, as well as for help-seeking behaviour. However, research on public trust towards the social services is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the extent to which Swedish citizens trust social workers who work within the social services, and to explore patterns in level of trust based on demographic factors and history of service use. The analysis draws on survey data from 2010, 2014, and 2018 (total n = 4975). Logistic regressions were conducted to assess associations between predictor variables and trust. Findings On average, 40 percent of the general public reported a high level of trust regardless of year. Approximately 20 percent reported a low level of trust. The results indicate a slight decrease in trust between 2010 and 2014 but not between 2014 and 2018. No gender or age differences were identified. Low income level, being related to a service user, and low level of education were all associated with low level of trust. Applications Our findings provide new insights regarding variations in levels of trust in the general population. Economically and educationally disadvantaged groups as well as those related to a service user are more likely to report low trust than their more advantaged counterparts. To strengthen legitimacy and accessibility, these groups should be prioritised in trust-enhancing efforts. Still, reports of high trust were predominant, indicating that social workers are generally perceived as trusted providers of social support.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Sage Publications, 2022
Keywords
Social work, social service, social capital, social workers, belief
National Category
Social Work
Research subject
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-90123 (URN)10.1177/14680173221094535 (DOI)000798773900001 ()2-s2.0-85129850416 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2022-06-07 Created: 2022-06-07 Last updated: 2025-01-28Bibliographically approved
Atusingwize, E., Nilsson, M., Sjolander, A. E., Ssempebwa, J. C., Tumwesigye, N. M., Musoke, D. & Landstedt, E. (2022). Social media use and alcohol consumption among students in Uganda: a cross sectional study. Global Health Action, 15(1), Article ID 2131213.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Social media use and alcohol consumption among students in Uganda: a cross sectional study
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2022 (English)In: Global Health Action, ISSN 1654-9716, E-ISSN 1654-9880, Vol. 15, no 1, article id 2131213Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background Globally, alcohol use significantly contributes to the disease burden. Alcohol consumption in Uganda is related to several health consequences among young people, including university students. Social media is commonly used by students to share academic information and create social networks. Among young people in high-income countries, previous studies have also shown that social media use can have negative health outcomes related to alcohol use, and associated problems. To date, similar studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries are largely missing. Objective To assess the prevalence of and associations between social media use and alcohol consumption among university students in Uganda. Method This was a cross-sectional study among 996 undergraduate students at Makerere University. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Alcohol use in the previous 12 months was the dependent variable. The independent variable was social media use categorised as general use, alcohol-related use, and social media lurking/passive participation. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess associations. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were reported. Results Nearly all students (97%) used social media and 39% reported alcohol use. Regular alcohol use was significantly associated with moderate (OR = 2.22, CI: 1.35-3.66) and high level general social media use (OR = 2.45, CI: 1.43-4.20). Regular alcohol use was also associated with alcohol-related social media (OR = 6.46, CI: 4.04-10.30), and alcohol-related lurking (OR = 4.59, CI: 2.84-7.39). Similar, although weaker associations were identified for occasional alcohol use. Conclusions Approximately four in ten students reported alcohol use in the past year, and almost all students used social media. Alcohol-related social media use was associated with occasional and regular alcohol use, with stronger associations for regular use. These findings may guide further research and present an opportunity for potential alcohol control interventions to improve health among young populations in low- and middle-income countries.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2022
Keywords
Social media, alcohol, lurking, university students, Uganda
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology Social Work
Research subject
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-92312 (URN)10.1080/16549716.2022.2131213 (DOI)000868186800001 ()36239970 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85139885587 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2022-10-28 Created: 2022-10-28 Last updated: 2022-10-31Bibliographically approved
Nilsson, K. & Landstedt, E. (2022). Social work, trust, and the media – a study on news media influence on public trust towards the Swedish social services.. In: : . Paper presented at 11th European Conference for Social Work Research 6-8 April 2022 Amsterdam, The Netherlands (pp. 326-326).
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Social work, trust, and the media – a study on news media influence on public trust towards the Swedish social services.
2022 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Background

News media reports have been accredited by practitioners and academics as being, at least partly, responsible for distrust towards social workers and social services – undermining legitimacy. Through negative representations news media contribute to a skepticism within the public. However, even if it is a possibility that news media representations create distrust, it is yet to be empirically substantiated. The aim of the paper was to explore associations between patterns in news media use- and trust, and individuals trust in the Swedish social services. This paper draws on survey data (n= 1697). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to create empirically derived subgroups concerning use. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression were used to assess associations between news use- and trust and trust in the social services.             

Findings

Via LPA classes with basis in level of use and preferred type of news medium was identified. No significant associations between classes and trust in the social services was found. However, trust in news media content was positively associated with trust in the social services. The association was statistically significant also when covariates previously shown to be of importance for trust was included in analysis.   

Applications

The findings presented in the paper provide empirical insights concerning the role of news for public trust in the social services. On contrary to what has been assumed – news affects trust negatively­ – the findings suggest the opposite. For academics and practitioners alike, this enhances the understanding of news media’s role in public trust and legitimacy. 

National Category
Social Work
Research subject
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-96916 (URN)
Conference
11th European Conference for Social Work Research 6-8 April 2022 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Available from: 2023-10-09 Created: 2023-10-09 Last updated: 2023-12-11Bibliographically approved
Landstedt, E., Bortes, C. & Strandh, M. (2021). Is there a social gradient in how youth with mental disorder perform academically?: Findings from a Swedish longitudinal register-based study. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 1-12
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Is there a social gradient in how youth with mental disorder perform academically?: Findings from a Swedish longitudinal register-based study
2021 (English)In: BMC Psychiatry, E-ISSN 1471-244X, Vol. 21, no 1, p. 1-12Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: It is well established that academic achievement and other school-related outcomes are associated with mental health status in children and youths. However, few studies have examined the influence of socioeconomic background on the relationship between poor childhood/adolescent mental health and school performance. From an equity perspective, it is important to explore how school-related outcomes are affected for young people with mental disorder and if these outcomes differ depending on gender and socioeconomic background. This study aimed to investigate social gradients in the prospective association between childhood/ adolescent mental disorder and academic achievement. Methods: This register based study used data from the Umeå SIMSAM Lab of linked Swedish registers on all children born between 1990 and 1994 and their parents (N = 642 558). The outcome was school grades achieved upon compulsory school graduation (age 15/16). Mental disorder was indicated by number of hospitalisations due to ICD classified mental disorders and prescription of psychoanaleptic drugs. Indicators of socioeconomic position were parental level of education and family income in four categories respectively. Parental history of mental disorder was controlled for. Linear regressions, including interaction analyses, were performed. Results: Mental disorder in childhood/adolescence was related to lower grades, particularly in boys. The drop in academic achievement among youth with mental disorder was more pronounced among girls in mid SEP categories than among their less and more advantaged peers. A less clear interaction pattern was identified in boys. Conclusions: Based on theory and existing research we expected a typical social gradient in the strength of the association between mental disorder and academic achievement. However, we identified a U-shaped social gradient among girls. Analyses of the links between mental health and academic outcomes need to take both gender and social position into account. More research is needed to investigate these patterns further.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BioMed Central, 2021
Keywords
Mental Health, Academic Achievement, Social Gradient, Registry Data, Adolescents, Gender
National Category
Health Sciences Social Work
Research subject
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-87358 (URN)10.1186/s12888-021-03448-z (DOI)000693241400002 ()2-s2.0-85114432379 (Scopus ID)
Note

Correction published here, Sep. 2021: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03465-y

Available from: 2021-11-22 Created: 2021-11-22 Last updated: 2024-01-17Bibliographically approved
Landstedt, E. & Almquist, Y. B. (2019). Intergenerational patterns of mental health problems: The role of childhood peer status position. BMC Psychiatry, 19(1), Article ID 286.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Intergenerational patterns of mental health problems: The role of childhood peer status position
2019 (English)In: BMC Psychiatry, E-ISSN 1471-244X, Vol. 19, no 1, article id 286Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background

Past research has established the intergenerational patterning of mental health: children whose parents have mental health problems are more likely to present with similar problems themselves. However, there is limited knowledge about the extent to which factors related to the child’s own social context, such as peer relationships, matter for this patterning. The aim of the current study was to examine the role of childhood peer status positions for the association in mental health across two generations.

Methods

The data were drawn from a prospective cohort study of 14,608 children born in 1953, followed up until 2016, and their parents. Gender-specific logistic regression analysis was applied. Firstly, we examined the associations between parental mental health problems and childhood peer status, respectively, and the children’s mental health problems in adulthood. Secondly, the variation in the intergenerational patterning of mental health according to peer status position was investigated.

Results

The results showed that children whose parents had mental health problems were around twice as likely to present with mental health problems in adulthood. Moreover, lower peer status position in childhood was associated with increased odds of mental health problems. Higher peer status appeared to mitigate the intergenerational association in mental health problems among men. For women, a u-shaped was found, indicating that the association was stronger in both the lower and upper ends of the peer status hierarchy.

Conclusions

This study has shown that there is a clear patterning in mental health problems across generations, and that the child generation’s peer status positions matter for this patterning. The findings also point to the importance of addressing gender differences in these associations.

Keywords
Birth cohort, Intergenerational patterning, Longitudinal, Mental health, Peer relationships, Sweden
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Research subject
Social Work; Public Health Science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-87741 (URN)10.1186/s12888-019-2278-1 (DOI)000486723000009 ()
Projects
Reproduction through linked lives (RELINK)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2016–07148
Available from: 2021-12-09 Created: 2021-12-09 Last updated: 2024-01-17Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0003-2996-3348

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