EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL WORKERS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of digital communication technology on the relationship between social workers and young adults in social work practice. The objective of this study is to analyse how the use of digital communication has impacted the social workers’ and young adults’ relationship in social work practice and to explore whether the social workers faced any challenges, and the possibilities of the use of digital communication technology in social work practice with young adults from the social workers’ perspectives. In this study, the qualitative research method has been used to gather in-depth information from the participants. The findings of this study showed that the use of digital communication technology has impacted the relationship between social workers and the young adults both positively and negatively. Social workers emphasized the advantages of using digital communication technology in social work practice, which is easier, faster, and more accessible and easy builds up relationship with young adults, specifically with those the social workers had difficulties reaching out to and providing services to in person and with disabilities. However, working with young adults requires a high degree of trust and interaction, and it was difficult for the social workers to develop that trust and interaction without physical presence. Social workers expressed the need to have both options alternatively in social work practice: the use of digital communication technology and in-person meetings, considering the benefits and drawbacks of both in-person meetings and using digital communication technology, to maintain and build relationships with young adults.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v11i4.2050
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