A Fundamental Study of Cultural Issues in Social Work Practice:

Toward the Establishment of Social Work in China

Abstract

  This paper aims to clarify the cultural challenges faced in social work practice in China to promote the establishment of social work. A literature review was conducted and identified three significant issues pertaining to Chinese social work practice: difficulty in approaching clients, challenges in implementing client-centered support, and difficulties in maintaining professional helping relationships. Additionally, four categories concerning cultural characteristics were generated: collectivist characteristics, authoritarian characteristics, characteristics of relationship structures, and ethical and moral characteristics. Furthermore, by comprehensively analyzing these challenges and cultural issues, the overall picture of the circumstances faced in practice was examined, including the relationships between the various issues. The paper also explores perspectives on understanding these cultural challenges and considers future directions.