Role perception among social workers living in politically uncertain areas

Social workers and residents in areas of political uncertainty are exposed to special demands which derive from three sources, residence in the area, exposure to the anxieties and conflicts of neighbors as clients, and being representatives of the establishment. The results of a survey in 1995 of social workers in Judea/Samaria and the Golan Heights show a positive correlation between feelings of surfeit of political issues and difficulty of coping with the role of social worker and state anxiety. Most of the social workers reported difficulties in role performance resulting from political positions held by themselves, their clients and the local leadership. We conclude with a suggestion for a debriefing team model.