A1 Journal article (refereed)
Conceptualising Work-Related Moral Suffering : Exploring and Refining the Concept of Moral Distress in the Context of Social Work (2020)

Mänttäri-van der Kuip, M. (2020). Conceptualising Work-Related Moral Suffering : Exploring and Refining the Concept of Moral Distress in the Context of Social Work. British Journal of Social Work, 50(3), 741-757. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz034

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Mänttäri-van der Kuip, Maija

Journal or series: British Journal of Social Work

ISSN: 0045-3102

eISSN: 1468-263X

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 50

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 741-757

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz034

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68902

Abstract

In the nursing literature, work-related suffering due to restricted moral agency is commonly considered under the concept of moral distress. This concept has resonated strongly amongst nursing scholars since the 1980s and has recently gained ground amongst social work scholars as well. However, the research on moral distress suffers from inadequate conceptual clarity; this has led to multiple and disparate ways of empirically studying the phenomenon. This article examines the conceptualisations of moral distress applied in the nursing and social work literature and identifies and discusses the challenges and potential problems related to them. The article sheds light on the complex, dynamic and relative nature of the phenomenon, which has not been sufficiently acknowledged in the existing empirical literature. Despite its complexities and defects, as highlighted in this article, the concept of moral distress can serve as an important tool for understanding and analysing experiences of moral suffering in front line social work. However, defining this experience in all its complexity and devising a valid instrument to measure it remain a major challenge.

Keywords: ethics; morals; social work; well-being

Free keywords: moral distress

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 3