Practicing Professional Values: Factors Influencing Involvement in Social Work Student Organizations

Abstract

One of the most promising avenues for the development of professional values is involvement in professional student organizations.  A convenience sample of baccalaureate social work students (n = 482) was drawn from 15 institutions.  Regression analyses revealed several predictors of involvement in social work student organizations, including student mentorship, involvement in other student organizations, and type of institution (public/private).  These results suggest that involvement in professional student organizations (e.g., social work, nursing, law) may be amenable to interventions such as structured educational/social events and peer mentorship programs which, in turn, may help in the development of professional values.