Political Efficacy in Social Workers Before and After 2016

Authors

Shannon R. Lane, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva UniversityFollow
Katharine M. Hill, University of St. Thomas, MinnesotaFollow
Kathryn S. Krase, Krase ConsultingFollow
Tanya Rhodes Smith, University of Connecticut School of Social WorkFollow

Keywords

Political social work, elections, civic engagement, efficacy, political efficacy

Abstract

Since 2016, members of communities traditionally prevented or discouraged from electoral politics have challenged barriers to political power. Social work’s current research base about political action reflects the pre- 2016 political landscape. Survey data collected between 2015 and 2019 examines ways social workers’ political engagement and efficacy reacted to this political environment. We examined political efficacy of social workers and students before and after 2016 to compare their internal efficacy (sense of one’s own power in the political system) and external efficacy (sense of the system’s responsiveness). Political engagement and individual measures of political efficacy increased among certain demographic groups; however, overall political efficacy was unchanged. Implications for social work education and research are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Lane, Shannon R.; Hill, Katharine M.; Krase, Kathryn S.; and Rhodes Smith, Tanya (2021) "Political Efficacy in Social Workers Before and After 2016," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 48: Iss. 4, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.4526
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol48/iss4/3