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A scoping review framework was used to explore and synthesize the existing international research surrounding social workers' application of theory into practice. The results indicated: (a) social workers report employing pragmatic approaches; (b) although some social workers struggle to explicitly identify the theories and methods they utilize, implicit theoretical application is evident; (c) time is the greatest barrier to theoretical application; and (d) some social workers are concerned with individual functioning rather than social justice. There is a need to integrate theory into education and future research to explore the link between theory and practice implemented by social workers internationally.

Theory serves as a source of guiding knowledge in informing assessment and interventions in social work practice. Thus, social workers should be cognisant and analytical in applying theory to practice, particularly as their work moves forward the social work aims of social change and social justice under the current social and political climate. This exploratory, qualitative study sought to explore the use of theories by social workers in the United States, the underlying purposes of the social workers' choice of theory, and whether the social workers' practice had a focus on social change and social justice. Data from interviews with twenty social workers were analysed using a summative content analysis and revealed social workers to predominately apply theories to practice that have a purpose to problem solve on an individual level. Only one social worker applied theory with a purpose of empowerment and social change, and two social workers applied theory with a purpose of social change. The findings were considered against the global definition of social work, which promotes social change and social justice as key aims of social work. Social work practice in this study is found to reflect individualism, neoliberalism, and capitalism and recommendations are considered to redefine social work practice to be more widely committed to social change and social justice. ; La teoría sirve como fuente de conocimientos que orienta las intervenciones del trabajo social. Si lo que se busca es aportar a la transformación y a la justicia social en el momento social y político actual, las/os trabajadores sociales deben ser conscientes y analíticos al momento de fundamentar teóricamente sus intervenciones. Este estudio exploratorio y cualitativo buscó examinar la manera en que las teorías son asimiladas por parte de trabajadoras/es sociales en los Estados Unidos, los propósitos que justifican la elección de teorías y la orientación hacia la transformación y la justicia social que tenían sus intervenciones ...

The stress that the COVID pandemic has caused is immeasurable and is likely to impact people for many years to come. Service providers such as social workers are experiencing these impacts both personally and professionally. As new research emerges, a greater understanding of the emotional toll related to COVID can help to inform social work practice. To add to this gap in the literature, an online survey explored the factors that contribute to higher stress reactions among individuals in the general population (n = 412) and across the age spectrum. Bivariate analyses indicated a significant increase in stress from pre- to during-COVID for the entire sample and across the three age groups. Multivariate analysis revealed more conversations about COVID, more alcohol use, knowing someone who had tested positive, increased fear, greater avoidance of reading/watching information about COVID, decreased health status, and increased income contributed to stress during-COVID. Increased fear and decreased health status were significant when stress was examined separately among the three age groups. The results indicated the importance of understanding and responding to fear during public health crises and illustrate how interventions may shift for clinical social workers as they seek to address multi-layered concerns. Social workers can help manage the impact of the pandemic by providing clients with therapeutic services, psychoeducation, and case management.