Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE): A Proposed Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Program for Social Workers in the Philippines

Abstract Social workers are essential in human service organizations as they play an important role in the implementation of programs and in addressing the needs of diverse populations. However, their well-being and performance can suffer due to the stress and challenges inherent in their work en...

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Main Author: Exxon Susmerano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Indonesian Social Work Consortium 2025-06-01
Series:ASEAN Social Work Journal
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Online Access:https://www.aseansocialwork.com/index.php/asw/article/view/75
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author Exxon Susmerano
author_facet Exxon Susmerano
author_sort Exxon Susmerano
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Social workers are essential in human service organizations as they play an important role in the implementation of programs and in addressing the needs of diverse populations. However, their well-being and performance can suffer due to the stress and challenges inherent in their work environments. This paper aims to address the urgent need to respond to social workers’ self-care needs by exploring the potential of a culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention in addressing issues such as stress and depression among social workers in the Philippines. Through a review of relevant literature, this paper examined mindfulness-based intervention as an emerging self-care practice and approach to addressing work-related health issues. It proposed the development and assessment of the Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE) program, which is a culturally tailored intervention designed to meet the unique needs of social workers. Pending successful evaluation of its feasibility, efficacy, and effectiveness, social welfare and human service organizations may implement the proposed intervention to promote self-care and empowerment among social workers.
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spelling doaj-art-04eb3d454d2a40b69fd0dd70ab3db7e82025-08-20T02:44:33ZengIndonesian Social Work ConsortiumASEAN Social Work Journal2089-10752963-24042025-06-0175Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE): A Proposed Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Program for Social Workers in the PhilippinesExxon Susmerano01). School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA Department of Social Work, 2). University of the Philippines Diliman, PhilippinesAbstract Social workers are essential in human service organizations as they play an important role in the implementation of programs and in addressing the needs of diverse populations. However, their well-being and performance can suffer due to the stress and challenges inherent in their work environments. This paper aims to address the urgent need to respond to social workers’ self-care needs by exploring the potential of a culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention in addressing issues such as stress and depression among social workers in the Philippines. Through a review of relevant literature, this paper examined mindfulness-based intervention as an emerging self-care practice and approach to addressing work-related health issues. It proposed the development and assessment of the Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE) program, which is a culturally tailored intervention designed to meet the unique needs of social workers. Pending successful evaluation of its feasibility, efficacy, and effectiveness, social welfare and human service organizations may implement the proposed intervention to promote self-care and empowerment among social workers.https://www.aseansocialwork.com/index.php/asw/article/view/75social workermindfulness-based interventioncultural adaptationstress managementintervention model
spellingShingle Exxon Susmerano
Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE): A Proposed Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Program for Social Workers in the Philippines
ASEAN Social Work Journal
social worker
mindfulness-based intervention
cultural adaptation
stress management
intervention model
title Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE): A Proposed Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Program for Social Workers in the Philippines
title_full Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE): A Proposed Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Program for Social Workers in the Philippines
title_fullStr Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE): A Proposed Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Program for Social Workers in the Philippines
title_full_unstemmed Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE): A Proposed Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Program for Social Workers in the Philippines
title_short Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE): A Proposed Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Program for Social Workers in the Philippines
title_sort stress management for improved living and empowerment smile a proposed culturally adapted mindfulness based program for social workers in the philippines
topic social worker
mindfulness-based intervention
cultural adaptation
stress management
intervention model
url https://www.aseansocialwork.com/index.php/asw/article/view/75
work_keys_str_mv AT exxonsusmerano stressmanagementforimprovedlivingandempowermentsmileaproposedculturallyadaptedmindfulnessbasedprogramforsocialworkersinthephilippines