Date of Conferral

5-3-2024

Date of Award

May 2024

Degree

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

School

Social Work

Advisor

Peter Meagher

Abstract

Social workers are among the first responders to be activated during a natural disaster, and they remain aiding victims through the final stages of the recovery process. During the aftermath of natural disasters, social workers are required to work under extreme pressure and are at an increased risk of developing mental health issues that can affect their ability to provide adequate services. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of social workers who responded to Hurricane Maria regarding the role of social support and its relation to burnout. A purposive selection methodology was applied to select a sample of 12 social workers who met the criteria of being 18 years of age or older, had a master’s degree in social work, were fully licensed to provide social work services, and had the experience of providing services in Puerto Rico after the impact of Hurricane Maria. This study utilized the concepts of social support theory to explore the experiences of this group of social workers. The participants were interviewed via Zoom, after being recruited through social work group pages on social media. Thematic coding was applied to the interview transcripts resulting in five themes: (a) the importance of external help and human connections, (b) the utility of individual strategies to avoid burnout, (c) the lack of social support provided by social work organizations, (d) the unavailability of therapeutic services, and (e) the importance of being knowledgeable of community resources to promote social support. The data produced through this study can be used to improve positive social change through social aid in the wake of hurricanes.

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