Research on Asian-American career choice, career experience, work-related stress, and well-being has been extremely limited. Based on a comprehensive online survey with a total of 208 Asian-American social work administrators, supervisors, practitioners, and graduate social work students, Prof. Kenny Kwong will present on the career choices, barriers and prospects, work-related stress, and professional quality of life Asian-American social workers.
Very few studies have explored factors that may associate with career choices and career advancement among Asian-American social workers. This study investigated factors influencing career choices of Asian-American social workers and assessed if their personal characteristics and career-related experiences affected their perceived glass ceiling, perception of ethnic discrimination, and perception of career prospects. This study also explored their work-related stress and career experiences and assessed if their demographic characteristics, beliefs and orientations (altruism, idealism, and self-compassion) and work-related stressors might impact their professional quality of life (secondary trauma, compassion satisfaction, and burnout), and job-related health problems.
Self-compassion can be an important adaptive mechanism that may enhance positive coping and psychological and physical well-being of these Asian American professionals. This study suggests that enhancing recruitment and retention of Asian-American social workers may require changes not only in the professional education and development but also in the culture, practices, and conditions of employment.
