Possick, Shamai, & Sadeh (2014). Healing the social self: How parents whose children were killed in terror attacks construct the experience of help
Bibliographic details:
Possick, C., Shamai, M., & Sadeh, R. A. (2014). Healing the social self: How parents whose children were killed in terror attacks construct the experience of help. Community mental health journal, 50(4), 487-496.
Abstract:
This study focuses on expressed needs and structures of assistance received by Israeli parents whose children were killed in terror attacks. The loss takes place within a multi-systemic network that can be a healing force and/or a distorting factor in the grief process. The qualitative research paradigm employed privileges the knowledge of the parents themselves. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 parents. (1) The primary criterion that determines the parents’ attribution of helpfulness is perceived inclusiveness. (2) The subsystem of “family of the bereaved” is salient in the healing process. (3) There is a clear preference for the services provided by NGO’s as opposed to governmental agencies. (4) The bereaved parents engage the symbolic level of the macro-system—the heritage of the Jewish people. The article concludes with the practical implications of the findings for the development and delivery of psychosocial services to parents bereaved in terror attacks.
Ron & Shamai (2011). Assessing the impact of ongoing national terror: Social workers in Israel
Bibliographic details:
Ron, P., & Shamai, M. (2011). Assessing the impact of ongoing national terror: Social workers in Israel. Social Work Research, 35(1), 36-45.
Abstract:
The main goal of this study was to explore the connections between social workers' personal and professional exposure to national terror in Israel and their professional and personal distress experienced due to ongoing terror attacks. Data were collected from 406 social workers from Israel who worked in agencies that provide help to victims of terror and their families. The social workers reported low levels of burnout, low levels of stress, and medium-high levels of intrusive memories. Levels of personal and professional exposure were not associated with burnout, intrusive memories, or stress level. However, professional distress (burnout and intrusive memories) was positively associated with personal distress. In addition, a two-step hierarchical regression was conducted, revealing that when burnout and intrusive memories were added to the regression equation, the explained variance of the stress level increased. Neither burnout nor intrusive memories were found to be significant mediators between the independent variables and personal stress level, except in one case. Although the social workers coped relatively well with ongoing terror, it was clear that professional distress was associated with their personal stress.
Ron & Shamai (2014). The impact of ongoing national terror on the community of hospital nurses in Israel
Bibliographic details:
Ron, P., & Shamai, M. (2014). The impact of ongoing national terror on the community of hospital nurses in Israel. Community mental health journal, 50(3), 354-361.
Abstract:
The main goal of this study was to explore the connections between the exposure of nurses in Israel to national terror and the levels of distress experienced due to ongoing terror attacks. The data were collected from 214 nurses from various parts of Israel who work in three types of health services (mainly hospital departments) and provide help to victims of terror. The nurses reported very high levels of burnout, high levels of stress and medium-to high levels of intrusive memories. Levels of exposure were associated with burnout, intrusive memories and level of stress. More professional attention should be given to hospital nurses who provide care for trauma patients.
Shamai (1994). Family crisis intervention by phone: Intervention with families during the Gulf War
Bibliographic details:
Shamai, M. (1994). Family crisis intervention by phone: Intervention with families during the Gulf War. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 20(3), 317-323.
Abstract:
The purpose of this paper was to describe the ways in which a family therapy agency adjusted to emerging needs of families in Israel during the Gulf War. The therapeutic interventions were done by phone and followed a crisis intervention model. The impact of the special context arising from the war is described first, followed by a description of the problems related and the intervention provided. Finally, implications for family therapy are discussed.
Shamai (1998). Therapist in distress: Team‐supervision of social workers and family therapists who work and live under political uncertainty
Bibliographic details:
Shamai, M. (1998). Therapist in distress: Team‐supervision of social workers and family therapists who work and live under political uncertainty. Family Process, 37(2), 245-259.
Abstract:
This article describes and analyzes a 2‐year supervision process with social workers and family therapists who live and work under conditions of uncertainty on the West Bank. The systemic orientation used in this specific approach to supervision emphasizes the double role of the therapist: one as part of the therapeutic system, and the second as a member of the same community that is living in political uncertainty. The analysis revealed that a long‐term supervision process, in which the supervisor encouraged a containing context, was meaningful to the group. As a result of this secure atmosphere, the group was ready to talk about painful issues like loss as the result of war and terrorist attacks, loss as a result of immigration, and loss of ideals. Furthermore, the members of the group were ready to confront the possibility of relocation and their role in such a situation. The techniques used in the process, such as narrative and metaphors, were implemented by the members in their daily professional interventions. The flexibility between working on regular professional issues and issues related to stress and uncertainty seemed useful to the supervision, as well as the political dialogue that was created between the supervisor and the group.
Shamai (1999). Experiencing and coping with stress of political uncertainty: Gender differences among mental health professionals
Bibliographic details:
Shamai, M. (1999). Experiencing and coping with stress of political uncertainty: Gender differences among mental health professionals. Families in Society, 80(1), 41-50.
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate how mental health professionals experience and cope with the same stressor that affects their clients. It focuses on Israeli mental health professionals who live and work in the West Bank and were exposed to long periods of terror during the Palestinian uprising (the Intifada) and to the threat of possible relocation based on the Oslo Agreement. The sample included fourteen women and eleven men, representing about 15% of the Israeli mental health professionals who live and work among Jewish populations in the West Bank. Data were collected in April 1995 during the government of the left-wing regime, when the stress of possible relocation was very intense. The results, based on quantitative and qualitative analysis, indicate that being marginalized is an important aspect of creating the stress. Commitment to the goal was found to be the stronger variable affecting coping. As for gender differences, the quantitative results and part of the qualitative results supported the "role constraint" hypothesis. However, both males and females of the mental health professions were found to experience their response to stress and to use coping strategies according to the "socialization" hypothesis.
Shamai (2001). Parents’ perceptions of their children in a context of shared political uncertainty
Bibliographic details:
Shamai, M. (2001). Parents’ perceptions of their children in a context of shared political uncertainty. Child & Family Social Work, 6(3), 249-260.
Abstract:
The study describes the differences and similarities between parents’ feelings and their perception of their children’s feelings in a politically uncertain situation. The study focuses on Israeli families living in Judaea and Samaria (the West Bank) during two periods: the Intifada and the post‐Oslo Agreements years during the first phase of the peace process with the Palestinians. The research combines qualitative and quantitative methods. The results show that most of the feelings evoked by the uncertainty are negative emotions, such as fear, anger, hate, the desire for revenge, and avoidance. These emotions are experienced by parents and, according to the parents’ perceptions, by their children as well. In addition to the correlation between parents’ own experiences and their appraisal of their children’s, the children were perceived as having more negative feelings than the parents. Systemic analysis of the results indicates that the children are often a channel for expression of their parents’ emotions. Based on this finding, suggestions are made regarding intervention with children that take family processes into account. Some directions for applying the findings of this specific study in other contexts of shared political uncertainty, such as Northern Ireland, are suggested.
Shamai (2002). Parents' perceptions of their children in a context of shared political uncertainty: The case of Jewish settlers in the West Bank before and after the Oslo peace agreement
Bibliographic details:
Shamai, M. (2002). Parents' perceptions of their children in a context of shared political uncertainty: The case of Jewish settlers in the West Bank before and after the Oslo peace agreement. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 19(1), 57-75.
Abstract:
The study describes the differences and similarities between parents’ feelings and their perception of their children’s feelings in a politically uncertain situation. The study focuses on Israeli families living in Judaea and Samaria (the West Bank) during two periods: the Intifada and the post‐Oslo Agreements years during the first phase of the peace process with the Palestinians. The research combines qualitative and quantitative methods. The results show that most of the feelings evoked by the uncertainty are negative emotions, such as fear, anger, hate, the desire for revenge, and avoidance. These emotions are experienced by parents and, according to the parents’ perceptions, by their children as well. In addition to the correlation between parents’ own experiences and their appraisal of their children’s, the children were perceived as having more negative feelings than the parents. Systemic analysis of the results indicates that the children are often a channel for expression of their parents’ emotions. Based on this finding, suggestions are made regarding intervention with children that take family processes into account. Some directions for applying the findings of this specific study in other contexts of shared political uncertainty, such as Northern Ireland, are suggested.
Shamai (2003). Using social constructionist thinking in training social workers living and working under threat of political violence
Bibliographic details:
Shamai, M. (2003). Using social constructionist thinking in training social workers living and working under threat of political violence. Social work, 48(4), 545-555.
Abstract:
This article describes and analyzes an intervention program with social workers living and working in a situation of uncertainty created by political violence such as war and terrorism. The author used a social constructionist perspective as a theoretical framework, emphasizing the effect of the social and political context in constructing the experience and a recognition of the personal and professional knowledge acquired in the daily experience. The author used qualitative methods to evaluate the process and outcome. The narrative-holistic analysis focused on reconstructing meaning and adapting it to the new situation, the main thrust of the program. From the thematic analysis four main themes emerged: (1) loss as a result of political violence; (2) meaning of strength and weakness in situations of political violence; (3) preparation for terrorist attacks; and (4) definition of a safe place. The outcome evaluation describes the meaning of this kind of training program to the participants. The specific context of the training program is discussed as well as possibilities of using it in different contexts.
Shamai (2005). Personal experience in professional narratives: The role of helpers' families in their work with terror victims
Bibliographic details:
Shamai, M. (2005). Personal experience in professional narratives: The role of helpers' families in their work with terror victims. Family Process, 44(2), 203-215.
Abstract:
This article describes research on the narratives of social workers who help terror victims, focusing on the relationship between the helpers' families and their work. Qualitative analysis of three training groups of social workers, who are responsible for helping in the event of terror attacks in different parts of Israel, and of three debriefing groups for social workers after terror attacks, reveals that the helpers' families play a role in the narratives constructed by the helpers. Two main themes were identified. The first centers on the interaction between work and the family, and shows that in the situation of a terror attack, the conflict between the two disappears and the family often serves as a support system for the helpers. The second theme refers to the family dimension alone, and focuses on the dichotomy between vitality and loss. The way that family life events affect helpers' professional intervention is described. The findings are discussed in light of Conservation of Resources Theory, the fight‐flight response to threat, and the concept of the family as a source of safety and risk taking.